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100 Did anything else happen '—Nothing that I remember. But we expressed strong disapproval at the system of solitary confinement. I told Brother Loetus we wished the boys liberated at once, and he promised to do so. . , 101. Do you remember whether anything was said about repeated canjngs /—iiiacn boy said he had been thrashed—one said every day, I think, and the other four or six times. 102. Mr. Wardell.] Did you examine the second boy's hands to see if they were lacerated t — No; Ido not remember doing so. . 103. Mr. Harley.] Did you see the boys at the midday meal ?—Yes; I think we saw them 104. What were they having ?—They were having this Irish stew—mashed potatoes, with very little meat in it. _ 105. Did you taste it ?—No; it did not look very tempting. It was mostly potatoes. It was fairly brown. It had not the appearance of being appetising food. 106. When you went out into the yard, before going upstairs a second time, did you see any boys there ?—Yes, about a hundred or a hundred and fifty perhaps. 107. How were they clothed ?—Very poorly, and not similarly. They were m all sorts and sizes of garments. . . , 108. Mr. Wardell] And all colours, I suppose ?—Yes; some had toes through their boots, and some had their hair through their hats. 109. Mr. Harley.] Did you notice anything peculiar about the material from which the clothes were made ?—No, I did not examine it; but it looked poor material. 110. Could you say whether they wore undershirts?— No. Some of the boys had their coats buttoned close up to the chin. I could not see whether they had waistcoats on. in. What was your opinion of the clothing generally ?—That it was extremely poor. 112. What did you do after this inspection ?—We reported to the Board. 113! You did all this under the assumption that you had a right to do it as an official visitor ? Yes. 114 Mr. Wardell] You have since found that you have not that right ?—Yes. 115 - You have claimed an official status during the whole of the ten years you have been in the habit of visiting the school ?—During the last two years during which I have been Chairman of the Board I had previously been there as a member of the Board, and also privately. 116. Did you consider you had a right to make an official visit?— Only during the last two years as Chairman of the Board. . 117. Did the previous Chairman do it ?—Yes ; I think all Chairmen have done it. 118. Mr. Harley.] During the whole of these years the visits have been made ?—Yes. 119' You have received frequent communications to the effect that the form of punishment at the school was not right ?—Yes. We made several visits to try to ascertain whether there was any truth in the statements. „,,„-,. „'.„ , » 120 On previous occasions have you found any reason for fault-finding ?—Never before. 121. Had you ever seen any cells "before ?—No ; I did not know they had them. 122. Had you ever seen any boys undergoing punishment ?—No. ,'.««• T 123. Had you ever before seen them in such a condition as regards clothing I— Yes; 1 saw them better clothed on one occasion, and equally as poorly on other occasions. _ _ 124 On this occasion—that is, in May—was any information given to the institution ot your intended visit ?—No ; every care was taken that nothing should be known. It was intended to be Ur i2s Se -Mr Wardell] Have your previous visits, or any of them, been surprise visits ?—They were intended to be surprise visits, but information leaked out and we were foiled. On the Bth February last we made a surprise visit, when they had no knowledge of our coming. 126 Mr Harley 1 When you got there on the Bth February, was anybody there >—When we Eot there we saw Brother Loetus, and told him that we wished to make an inspection without being first entertained as on previous occasions. He said, " Very well; I will show you round.' 127 Did you find things satisfactory ?—We found everything all right, and made an entry in the visitors' book to that effect. We found out afterwards that special preparation had been made for the visit of a Bishop from Australia, who was there on that day, and to whom we were introduced. . . . „ ~ 128 On your previous visits, did you discover any irregularities ! —JNo. 129 - Can you describe the ordinary visits ?—Yes. On arrival we were taken into the reception room and treated to a cup of tea or a glass of whisky. There was always some delay occasioned • but after having the refreshment we inspected the building. We were taken into the chanel the'dormitories, dining-room, and class-room, and shown a great deal; but no cells. 130. What was the appearance of the boys then ? About the same as you found them last May? Yes ; about the same. Not very satisfactory. 131 In what way ?—The boys were poorly clad on most occasions. 132 Was that the case on the Bth February ?—No; the boys were well clad then. In tact, 1 told Brother Loetus that they had too much clothing on, and that it would be better on such a hot day to let them go bare-footed. . . : , 133. Mr. Fell] I understand that, apart from this cell business, you complain of the boys being poorly clad and poorly fed ?—Yes. 134. Had you ever been to the meals before the 30th May ?—I may have been; I do not thm i3s" Then as to the previous'feeding you know nothing?-No; not from my own knowledge. 136 Do you know from any other knowledge ?—From hearsay, I know a good lot. 137] When did you first become aware of the complaints as to food?— Two or three years ago I heard something.