20

B.—3b

276. How much mutton was used ? —They killed two sheep every day. 277. Were they all consumed by the boys ? —No ; nob all. The hind legs were taken off for the Brothers and men. 278. And you had the rest for the soup ?—Yes. 279. What did you do with the bones ?—The bones and all went into the stew. 280. Mr. WardelL] Was your cooking done in the same kitchen as the Brothers ? Yes. Brother Patrick did the cooking for the Brothers. 281. Mr. Harley.] What did you have for breakfast ?—Every second morning a bit of porridge, and one bit of bread. 282. What sort of porridge was it?— Not very good. 283. Who made this ?—I did. We had so much oatmeal in a soup-tureen. That was put in the copper with water. 284. Mr. WardelL] Was the porridge thick or thin ?—Thin. 285. Mr. Harley.] What was the size of the piece of bread you got ?—About three-quarters of an inch thick, cut off a tinned loaf. 286. Was there any butter on the bread ?—No. 287. Nothing at all?—A bit of grease sometimes. 288. What sort of grease ?—Suet or fat boiled down in the copper. 289. Was there anything else ?—No; that was all. 290. What colour was it ?—Brown when it was done. 291. How did you spread the fat on the bread ? —We had a pan of it. We dipped one piece of bread into the pan and rubbed it against another. 292. Mr. WardelL] Did you do that too?— Yes. 293. Mr. Harley.] What did you have on the intermediate days ?—Two pieces of bread and tea. 294. Mr. WardelL] When you had porridge and bread did you have anything to drink ?—Yes; tea. 295. Mr. Harley.] Were the two pieces of bread treated in the same way as at porridge time ?—Yes. 296. Did you have any milk with the porridge ?—When I was there they did not. 297. Did you have any sugar on it?— Yes ; not much. 298. Did you have sugar in the tea ?—Yes. 299. What did you have for tea?— Two pieces of bread and tea, all through the week. 300. Pieces of bread like those you had for breakfast ?—Yes. 301. Did you have butter for tea ? —No. 302. Did you have the fat ?—Yes. 303. Done in the same way as in the mornings?— Yes. 304. Did you ever have any jam ?■—Not often. Some made out of pumpkins; that was all. 305. How long did that last?— About two or three months in the year. 306. When you had pumpkin jam you would not have fat ?—Yes. 307. Did you ever get any butter ?—Yes ; it would be melted first. 308. How was it put on the bread ? —ln the same way as the fat was. 309. Had you ever pease-soup, or pease in any form ?—No. When I first went there they made soup out of the meat for a while. 310. Was that left off latterly ?—Yes.. 311. Did you ever have any sago, tapioca, maccaroni, or anything of that kind ?—No ; not that I remember. 312. Did you have any puddings ?—Yes ; on Christmas Day, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday, and some saints' feast days. 313. On ordinary days did you have no pudding at any time ?—No. 314. At what time did you have your meals? —Breakfast at 7.30, dinner at 12, tea at 6 on school days, and 6.30 on other days. 315. Of this Irish stew, bread, &c, did you get enough ?—No. 316. You had a certain quantity served out to you first ?—Yes. 317. Could you get more if you wished? —Some could; some could not. 318. Mr. WardelL] You were cook; did you not get enough?— When I was cook I got enough, as I had meals with the men; but when I was with the boys I did not have enough. 319. Mr. Harley.] Were you ever really hungry ?—Yes ; plenty of times. 320. Mr. WardelL] Was this before you were in the kitchen or after ?—Both before and after. 321. Mr. Harley.] When did you go away ?—A little while after leaving cooking. About five months. 322. Did you get hungry during that period?— Yes. 323. Did you ask for more?— Sometimes. 324. Did you get it ?—When we put up our hands sometimes we would get it, and sometimes not. 325. Have you ever seen boys trying to find food about the place ?—Yes ; I have seen them eating raw potatoes, carrots, and turnips. 326. Eaw carrots and turnips are not so bad ?—lt helps to fill you up, anyway. 327. Did boys eat raw potatoes from choice ?—Yes. 328. Do you like raw potatoes?— They are not bad. 329. Have you ever seen boys getting food in any other way ?—Yes ; I have seen them stealing apples, meat, and bread. 330. Was there any place where the waste was put from the Brothers' table ? Yes; the scraps were put in the pig-tub,