H.—2l.

38

[m. early.

36. Did Mrs. Branting ring you up a few minutes afterwards, and say you were foolish not to let the girl go home? —She did; but she used much stronger language than that. 37. And in replying, did you say, "My conscience will not let me "?—I may have used those words. Ido not remember. I said it was no use discussing the matter with her. I would not go to the telephone at first. When Miss Hunt asked me, I said, " She is immovable in this matter, and so am I." 38. You would not influence the girl togo back? —I said to her, " A , if you have to go back do not make any fuss, but behave yourself as well as you have done here." 39. What did you mean by "If you have to go back "? —I do not know, lam sure. 40. I. understand you to say you did not assist the authorities in any way to get the girl back ? —I did not assist them. I said I would be no party to it. 41. Did you tell A G that the authorities wanted her back at the Home? —Yes, by this time. At first I did not tell her straight out. 1 told her there was a possibility of her being sent back to Te Oranga. 42. You knew at that time she was going back?— Yes. 43. Why did you not tell her so instead of saying it was possible?—l wanted to break it to her gently, because I knew it would be a shock. 44. When Miss Hunt came, why did you not say to the girl, "A , it is your duty to go back"? —I told her straight out they were coming for her, and I said, "A , I promised to do what I could for you, and I will not fail you now. I will not use any force to make you go back." 45. You gave her practically your moral support?—l suppose I did. 46. Do you not know that girl had attempted to commit suicide once or twice at the Home? —I knew they talked about it. 47. Do you know she took a knife and tried to murder another girl?—l knew they said so. 48. I suppose you did not believe it?—l have seen them do it very often when they get in a bit of a tantrum. 49. Do you know that on one occasion it took three or four girls to hold her to prevent her killing herself ?—No. 50. Do you know her mother died a raving lunatic in an asylum?—l knew she died in an asylum, but not a raving lunatic. 51. And you knew she had been committed to the asylum by Mr. Bishop after investigation by two medical men? —I knew she had been committed. 52. What did you mean by the word "destruction "?—Well, she had been sent away twice to prevent suicide or murder, and I knew she would do nothing of that sort in the Samaritan Home or at service. 53. With her suicidal tendencies? —She did not show any of these tendencies with us. 54. 1 believe even next day, when Miss Hunt returned, it took the efforts of your Committee and the police to get the girl away? You were still bellicose? —Oh, no. The Committee came up to settle with me for defying the Chairman. On the second occasion when the constable came I had nothing to do with it, because I had then been suspended. 55. Had the girl any delusions when she was with you? —No. 56. Not that every one in the world was against her, and that people said things about her? —She talked a bit wildly when she came first, and said things she did not actually mean, and was sorry for directly afterwards. 57. Did the Rev. Mr. Fendal see you about this case?— No. 58. Did the girl, when she was with you, ever express any wish to be back at Te Oranga?—I cannot remember it. 59. Did she ever say she did not want to go back?— Yes. 60. Are you surpised if I read a letter from her to the Matron in which she says, " Samaritan Home, Sunday.—Dear Matron, —I am feeling much happier since I came here, but I miss you all very much. I would like to be back, with you again "?—I am not very surprised, because if A was a little bit unhappy she often sat down and wrote things she did not mean. Henry Bylove Sorensen examined on oath. 1. Mr. Salter.] You are an auctioneer, residing in Christchurch?—Yes. 2. You were Chairman of the Boafd of Trustees of the Samaritan Home? —Yes. 3. You remember the difficulty about A G ?—Yes. 4. I believe Miss Early spoke to you and objected to the girl going back to Te Oranga Home?— Yes. 5. You gave some information to Miss Early that you had received from Mrs. Branting? —What I said was that if the report received from Mrs. Branting was correct, as I had reason to believe in the first instance, it would not be safe at that time to send the girl to take charge of small children. 6. Tell us exactly what Mrs. Branting said to you about this girl?—l do not remember exactly, as this was some six months prior to the difficulty between Miss Early and Mrs. Branting. When Mrs. Bean first rang me up, and asked for this girl, I told her we held the girl from the Department, and referred her to Mrs. Branting. • 7. Cannot you remember the report Mrs. Branting gave you of this girl?—l cannot positively remember. One thing Ido remember. She said the girl's mother died in an asylum, that the girl was very excitable, and somewhat lax in morals. 8. You believed all this on Mrs. Branting's word? —Yes. 9. In consequence of this, you declined to agree to Miss Early's proposals for the girl to go to service?— Yes. The Committee considered the question, and were rather in favour of givin<>-