WALTHAM ORPHANAGE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 5801, 19 January 1906, Page 5

WALTHAM ORPHANAGE.

INQUIRY CONTINUED

rRItSS ASSOCIATION. CHRISTCHURCH. January IS

‘The inquiry into The management cf Waltham Orphanage was resumed tills morning.

Evidence was given to show that the matron (.Mrs Carpenter) wn« extremely popular with the ciiildieii, and that they suffered no hardships. Several of the children gave evidence that they had plenty of food, and were well treated. When on ".vleuee" punishment they were allowed to speak to the matron ami assistants, and the punishment was not very bad, because they seldom obeyed it. Nemo of them remembered .Mrs Carpenter calling the children bad names or swearing at thorn. Dr Crook and other assistants at the hospital also gave evidence that the children had been under their charge from time to time, and that they never saw any evidence of neglect. The ehildion made no complaints. Frankie Hammond, aged fourteen years, said ho had teen at tHo orphanage about five years. One of his legs had boon amputated since entering Hie institution. He got on well with Mrs, Carpenter, and when ho got the strap ho deserved it—it did not hurt him. Ho had had dry broad, but not often. He had not heard Mrs Carpenter call the children bad names. They bad plenty of play at the orphanage. He used to go to Mrs Poachy’s every Saturday to bo taught dmir-catiing by Mr Mellish. Ho told Mrs Poachy about a “hiding’’ ho had had. He got on well with Miss McArthur. He always hud plenty to cat, and liked bread and dripping. Sydney B. Harris, a member of the Charitable Aid Board, said he had often visited tho orphanage, on a «umber of occasions alone. Ho was _ perfectly satisfied with the children. T hey always looked very happy and comfortable. He never saw them under punishment. They mod to be playing about, and seemed in no way depressed. Tho expenditure on the orphanage was in no way restricted. The account* were left mostly to tho chairman, Air Dobson. Willies! was not aware that any ..ccomui! were questioned. It was utter rubbish to say that the secretary domimiHd liio Board. Ho had never duminaUxl witness, and was not likely to do so. Ho thought that tho board-ing-out system was tho best means of proriding for orphan children—that was on condition that they were placed in com fort,. Ide homos in the country. A child could bo brought up in a private ho co at “a Gd a week in country districts. He thought Mrs Carpenter was quite suit-able to lie in charge of the orphanage if tho children wore removed after they had reached nix or seven years of ago. She was more suitable for looking after younger children. Sarah Smith, aged seventeen and a half year*, said she was at tho orphanage tor nine months, entering when sho was thirteen. She liked being at tho orphanage, where dio was kindly treated, cho went to school when she was there. There was no restriction a.s to talking outside the orphanage when children were “on silence.”

Maud Stewart, aged nineteen and n half years, said she was in the orphanage for a little over two years. She liked being there. She was there only a low months after Miss McArthur came. The "silence” punishment was in vogue before Mrs Carpenter took charge. John Dodson, member of (be Charitable Aid Board for ten years, said ho wan chairman of the institution's committee which was responsible to the Board for tho orphanage. The secretary practically took his instructions from tho committee. No .restriction was placed on the matron in regard to tho food, which was tendered lor, and was supposed to be of good quality. She had a free hand except with regard to exceptional things. Xu all his experience he had never had to complain ahmit the accounts. He had frequently visited tho orphanage. Tile committee often went there unannounced. 'The children had always appeared to bo in a satisfactory condition. They seemed well looked alter, and never seemed oppressed. Ho had never heard .any complaints as to the language of Mrs Carpenter, and so far os no could judge, (dio had carried out her duties satisfactorily. Ho was not awnro of tho “silenoo”. method of punishment, hut thought it was a good idea. He <!id not favour punishment by changing food, but rather by “the good old birch.” Ho was not aware that any account had boon questioned, as (dated by Miss McArthur. Ho did not remember instructions being given to Dr Uphnm that, he roust net prescribe medicine for sick patients in Lyttelton, other than tho contract medicine.

William Shakospearo Norton accountant at the Clia.r:t.gb!o Aid Hoard office, stated that ho had asked Mrs Carpenter to explain accounts on one or two occasions. _ He did that so as to bn prepared if any remark was made.

The inquiry will bo resumed to-mor-row.