B.—4a

10

when he said " Good morning"—he asked me to explain. I produce Mr. Crofts's note to me [Exhibit N]. The date of these notes would be about this time last year. I did not speak to Mr. Crofts when he wanted me to do so because I did not wish Mr. Van Asch to see me doing so, because Mr. Van Asch would object to seeing Mr. Crofts with me and the girls in a part of the garden where he was not supposed to be. Mr. Crofts wanted to know how I was getting on then. He knew there was some unpleasantness going on between me and Mrs. Van Asch. I cannot explain what Mr. Crofts means by "this nonsense coming to an end." Ido not remember seeing Mr. Crofts with a view of explaining anything to him after I wrote that note. I do not remember seeing him at all that day. I remember that Mr. Crofts said that if I did not see him soon he would use that note. I and Mr. Crofts are now in friendship. I object to his having put in that note. I once lent Mr. Crofts a few shillings; he has not returned it yet. lam friendly with Mr. and Mrs. Crofts. That was the only note I ever wrote Mr. Crofts, and the only one I ever received from him. Herbert Edwin Crofts, sworn, saith: Miss Buckingham and I have been in the institution for some time, and have been friendly. At the beginning of last year, on my return from the North Island, I was being pushed for money. There was much unpleasantness, and I felt that I was being slighted by the staff, and more particularly by the Director and his family. One morning when I came over to school Miss Buckingham was standing at the side-door. I went forward to speak to her. She turned round and went into the house. I felt hurt at the time, and I wrote that note. What I meant then was, did she intend to cut me. I saw her afterwards, I believe on the same day. She called at my house. She explained then that Mr. Van Asch was in the side-room, and would have been annoyed. I received that note from Miss Buckingham at noon, before I saw her. Emmeline Van Asch, sworn, saith: lam assistant teacher in the institution. I remember McWatters running away. I taught his class. On the day before Mr. Allan was teaching in the next room. McWatters did not know his lesson, and was in a bad temper. I did not take him by the ear or bang his head against the wall. I never did that to any of the pupils. I nudged the bovwith'my knee to make him get on with his lessons. I did not kick him hard. Then he brightened up. I complained to the Director, my father. By Mr. Crofts : I boxed McWatters's ears. I have not beaten any of the pupils with a stick. When they require corporal punishment I report them to my father.

Fbiday, 19th August, 1892. Mr. Crofts desires to make a further statement re Mr. Horton's letter. Mr. Crofts, sworn, says : I deny the statements made in the letter ; it is an evasion of what really took place. One Sunday, at the beginning of last year, Mr. Horton was driving through Sumner. He saw me, and told me that Charlie had written to him asking that he might be removed to the Boys' Home. He asked me if I could explain to him why the boy wished to be moved. I told him I did not know anything about the matter myself. He asked me if I would get an explanation from Charlie about the matter, and would I see him before he left for the North and give him the result a few days afterwards. I saw him at the Club, and told him what Charles's explanation was. I told him that I did not consider there was anything much in it—that there probably had been a little teasing going on, but nothing of any consequence. He said he was very dissatisfied with the state of things, but that he was placed in such a position that he did not know what to do. He said, "If I complain about this matter it will be very unpleasant for Charles at the institution for the remainder of the time he will be there. I would take him away now, but there is no other institution in the colony to which I could send the boy; but I shall certainly make it my business to call on the Minister of Education and state the whole case to him." My object in including that matter in the charges was that I wished to point out that there was a laxity in the management of the institution. I wish to put in a letter from a boy, Symes, referring to the charges I have made [Exhibit o]. By Mr. Van Asch : I borrowed money from Symes. I borrowed it in January, 1891. About the same time I borrowed money from Mr. Simpson.

APPENDIX.

A. Sib,— Glenelg, 14th May, 1888. We saw Mr. Crofts oti his return with his bride ; they seem to be " 0. K.", and enjoyed the trip out very well. I carted Crofts about a bit and he then went overland to Melbourne and got the boat there. He will have a lot to tell you, and concurs in my views that no institution he saw equals yours in any way. He was cheerful and conversant, and gave me a deal of news of his travels. When here he asked me for £20, which I lent him, and he will pay it back to you on my account. There is no hurry for it —only just mention it as lam writing. We just had rain, but too late for the lambing, and this is a sad loss to the country, but it will do for the farmers. Glad Mary is so well and jolly, and enjoys riding the pony. We have plenty of horses and no one to ride them. Loftus is at the college as a boarder and doing fairly well. Give my love and kiss to Mary, and with kind regards to all of you and family. Yours, &c, Mr. Van Asch. W. Moobhouse.