J. BONE.]

73

H.—2l.

5. Did Dr. Moorhouse give you any instructions in regard to the girls not being allowed to lift heavy weights ?—No. 6. Do the girls, so far as you can see, resent the work or like it?— Taking them on the whole, they seem to like it. They do not fight or squabble over it. 7. They are good-tempered, laughing and joking over it?— Yes. 8. When they have to climb a tree to put a rope round it, have they to be forced to go up?— No,, they never give me a chance to go up. 9. Do you see that nothing is done inconsistent with their safety?—l am always there, and tell them exactly what to do. 10. What saws have they got?— One double and one single cross-cut. The double cross-cut is the smallest size that can be got and the single one is medium size. 11. Are the girls very tired at any time? —No, they are always willing to race the staff when they have finished. 12. Have you ever seen them trying to run races after they have finished? —Yes, many a time carrying their tools.and wood as well. 13. They challenge the staff to a race?— Yes. 14. Sometimes they do gardening under you? —Yes. 15. That is lightish work? —Yes. 16. From what you have seen, are the members of the staff hard or easy on the girls?— I have seen no harshness whatever. 17. Have you seen any " nigger-driving " on the part of the staff?— No. 18. You know Official Visitors come here?— Yes. 19. If the girls wish to speak to the Official Visitors have they an opportunity to do so?— Yes, because the staff are never with the girls when the Visitor is talking to them. The Visitor will always go to a girl and speak to her alone. 20. In working with the girls, have you had opportunities to find out or hear if they had any complaints to make?—l have heard none. 21. And generally, so far as you can see, are the girls contented and happy? —They appear to be, 22. If there is any lifting of a heavy weight, who does that?—l do. 23. The girls are not called upon to lift any heavy weight?— No. 24. With regard to the girls driving wedges into the wood, is there anything hard about that?— No. 25. Have they light mauls? —No maul has been used for the last twelve months. 26. How do you drive the wedges?—We do not-use them at all. 27. Do you know the total number of trees that have been cut down?—l suppose something like twenty since I have been here, in eighteen months. 28. Mr. Turner said three trees would make a cord of firewood?—lt would take all that, because the trees are very small on the average. 29. Have you an opportunity of seeing the Matron and staff together a good deal? —Yes. 30. What is the feeling between the staff and the Matron so far as you can see ?—They have always appeared to be on the best of terms. They have a very pleasant way of speaking to each other, so far as I have seen. 31. How does the Matron deal with the girls? Is she good-tempered with them so far as you can see?— Very good-tempered. She is always joking and laughing, and the girls return it. 32. Is there any stiffness on the Matron's part?— No. 33. Mr. Salter.] Who carries the wood from the places where it is split to the yard?—lt ; s sledged down with the horse. 34. After they are split, who carries them ?—They are sledged down. 35. After they are split the girls say they carry them?— They carry them after they are split up into pieces the size of a post. 36. They said it sometimes took eight girls to carry one piece?—l have often carried two or three of them. 37. You undertake to say the feeling between the Matron and staff is perfectly friendly?— Yes. 38. How often do you see the Matron and staff together?— Pretty well every day. 39. For two or three minutes at a time?— Yes, and sometimes two and three times a day. Sometimes the Matron stays out for an hotir. 40. Have you ever heard the girls complaining about their treatment by the staff?— No. 41. They have never spoken to you about it?— No. 42. Mr. Russell.] After this wood is cut up, is it then sledged to its destination? —The roots are. 43. But the wood that is cut? —It is cut into 4ft. and 5 ft. lengths, and then split, and it is then carried by the girls. 44. Could it be true that one piece was so heavy that it took eight girls to carry it?—l have seen three or four girls carrying a piece, but it is not heavy wood. Jessie Macpherson examined on oath. 1. Mr. Russell.] You are an attendant at Te Oranga Home, and you have been here how many years?— Two years. 2. What are you?— Work mistress. .3. I think there are between fifty and six girls in the Home? —Yes, 4. Do you attend to the girls as well?— Yes.

10-H. 21.