H.—2l

A Z— M .]

94. You were the girl who told the Matron about H M behaving badly in the town ?— Yes. 95. Is this your letter signed " Z " [read yesterday]?— Yes. 96. Is this also your letter: " Dear Matron, —Ida wanted something to do, so she addressed my letter. I am so lonely here, but the children are so good that it is a pleasure to be with them. The baby never gives any trouble. You promised to send me my stationery, and it never came. It is now 8.30 p.m., and lam tired. I done my stove last night, so I have nothing to do to-night. As it ft very wet to-night baby has been asleep since 5 p.m. The work is a little hard at present, We have two visitors staying here, and that makes a good difference, and one of them is from England. lam going to get a new black dress made next week, and Mrs. C is going to pay for the making. I have to do my hair in pads, and I simply hate it. It is such a job. I have not worn my cap or collars yet, and I hope I never will. I will try and do my best to help Mrs. C . She is very kind to me. Lance is here reading. He wants to post this to-night. The post-box is just a little way from the gate, but lam frightened. Ido not know what it will be like in winter; it is so dark now. I feel like as if I was standing on the top of Mount Egmont living here. I have been up early this morning, and have to get up early to-morrow. So with best love to E , M , and all the other girls. Accept my best love, and give Miss Johnson and Miss Mcintosh and all the staff " ?—Yes. 97. Who are these crosses [kisses] for?— For the girls. 98. Did you mean them only for the girls? —Yes. 99. You are quite sure?— Yes. 100. You would not send anything of the kind to the Matron? —No, I would not. 101. Why would you not send any kisses to the Matron? —Because she has not been fair to me. I kept them for the other girls. 102. But you say " three for J , three for E , and six for yourself and not for Susan " ?—I thought they were all for the girls. 103. Is this also your letter : " Dear Matron, —Mrs. N gave me the letters you sent lastevening, and lam not a bit homesick, as you call it. I simply hate the country, and as long as I live I never wish to return to it. Well, really such a place you can hardly tell what day of the week it is. I would far rather come and stay in the second building until lam twenty-one sooner than stay, in this show for a month. I suppose these are the kind of places that causes girls to work at factories. You said I was making myself ridiculous. Well I'm not. It is just what I expect from Mrs. N . I don't suppose I will ever get another place like Miss S 's, or that I will ever be treated as she treated me. But never mind, I have only five months to do, and then I can pick and choose my own places. I know you won't be sorry, and I won't either :it will be less trouble for you and great happiness for me. I hate you and you hate me, and two hates never make a love. I will conclude, hoping to leave these backblocks soon. —Yours ungratefully, Z—M "?—Yes. 104. You know a girl named F B ?—Yes. . . .105 Was she at Waikari ?—Yes. 106. You were told by the Matron not to write to her?—No, I was not. 107. You did write to her as a matter of fact?— Yes. 108. You signed yourself "Mack"?— Yes. 109. Is this your letter: "My Own Dear Cherry Ripe,—l hope you received the parcel I posted on Saturday all right. I don't suppose you were sorry to get to work again. I was not, I can tell you. I think I might get some holidays in September, but I hope not, as I simply dread the thought of being taken prisoner again. I really never wish to enter the door- of Te Oranga again, but I suppose I will have to, much to my sorrow. I keep away from there as much as I possibly can. There is no one there I care for much now, but I feel sorry for the poor girls. I took myself up there yesterday, growled at every one I came across (except the girls), and then I asked Matron if I could go to the Theatre Royal. She said she would see, but, Cherry, we know what that means, don't we? Elizabeth was telling me about the food. I really think it is a sin to starve those poor beggars. I saw M N yesterday in a four-wheeler carriage with her young man, and a nice young groom driving them. I think she has a first-class time. "Well, dear old Cherry, you must write and tell me all the advents of your past holidays. I can guess how you enjoyed them. The pad was Is. and the net 4d. Don't forget to tell me if you want anything else " —Yes. 110. Is this other letter dated 24th June, 1907, and addressed to " My Dear Cherry Ripe " also in your writing?— Yes. 111. You tell us that with the exception of these three or four small complaints you had nothing against the Matron, and yet you wrote saying you hate her: How do you account for that? —Yes, she did not treat me with justice. 112. And you think that justifies you in writing a letter of that kind after living here three years?— Yes. D D examined on oath. 1. Mr. Salter.] How old are you?— Thirteen years. 2. How long have you been in this Home? —One year in May. 3. Do you have to do work outside with the other girls? —Yes. 4. Do you ever use the cross-cut saw?— Yes. 5. You at one end and some one else at the other?— Yes. .6. What else do you do outside? —Water'and weed the garden, and plant. 7. Have you anything else to do in connection with the trees? —No. 8. Have you ever been in the cell? —No.

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