WANT OF PROPER FOOD.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 1814, 22 July 1891, Page 6

WANT OF PROPER FOOD.

An inquest was held at Aackland last week touching the death of an infant, Bella Watson, who died in a sort of private children's house at Mount Eden, managed by a Mrs Stickley. The jury were conducted through the house to see the accommodation and state of the rooms. The building is in rather a dilapidated condition. The rooms are not papered, except a few patches here and there, and in some places daylight may be seen through the walls. In one of the rooms gathered round a fire were a number of little children — some in cradles, and some being nursed by others not very much older or bigger than themselves. The place was a hovel, about as clean as it could be made. Mrs Stickley explained that she did not feel justified in speaking upon money matters at that hour, as there was a dispute between herself and one of her neighbors regarding land. Mrs Stickley in her evidence stated that the house was her own enterprise, but her husband assisted her in the management. At present she had twelve children, mostly illegitimate, under her care, aged from three months up to fifteen years. The children were given to her care by their parents and by the Charitable Aid Board. She was not under the supervision or direction of the Government in any way, or the Charitable Aid Board either. The establishment was entirely a private concern, <"<! established about seven years ago. Fro... -he time it wasstarted thirty children badbtuu received. She gave them every attention, but she was delicate. The mother of the child (Mary Watson, a domestic servant) gave evidence that in her opinion the child was not properly looked after. Dr King, who had refused to give a certificate of death, deposed that death resulted in his opinion from want of proper food. The child was quite clean, and there were no marks of violence. He thought the home should have medical, or rather police supervision. The coroner took the verdict of a majority of the jury to the effect " that the child died from natural causes, and blame was attachable to Mr Stickley." They recommended that the place should be visited periodically by some medical gentleman. Dr Philson suggested they should state by whom the proposed medical visitant should be paid. The foreman did not think they had anything to do with that. He supposed the Government should pay him.