Page image

31

E.-—3b

146. What happened then?— Sometimes they were punished, and sometimes not. 147. Did the boys consider it hard work ?—Yes ; it was the worst work they had to do. Some took three-quarters of an hour and some half an hour to go up the hill. Others used to hurry to see who could get up first. 148. How were they at night after four trips?— Tired. 149. You did a lot of work on the farm : that did not make you tired like this? — It was not so hard. 150. Used you to get punished ?—Sometimes I did, for not doing my lessons, and for not doing what I was told. Sometimes I did not hold my hand out steady, and I would be hit across the back. 151. Did you ever get locked up in the cells ?—No. 152. Have you seen the cells, or seen boys in them ?—I have seen the cells. I have not seen the boys in them, but I know that they have been there. 153. Were they kept in a long time ?—A boy named Lowe was there five days not long before I left. Willis was in one ; I don't know for how long. 154. Mr. War dell.] Do you know what they were put in for?—l think both were put in for running away. 155. Was it only for running away they were put in? —I think so; but one boy was put in, I think, for insulting a woman. 156. Can you tell how many boys were put in these cells during the last two years ?—I think only Lowe, Skilton, and Willis. Skilton was in for two days at one time. I do not know how long Willis was in. 157. Mr. Harley.] When the boys were undergoing confinement in the cells were they let out at all ?—No. One boy, nicknamed " Day," who was in just before I left, used to be taken out in the afternoon. 158. Mr. Bush.] How long was this boy in ? Did he go out every afternoon ?—For the whole afternoon. He was in for a good time ; Ido not know for how long. 159. Mr. Harley.] Did you see Lowe and Skilton about the yard ? —They were not kept in all the time. They were allowed to go out with the other boys. 160. Have you ever had any mustard?— Yes. When I was ill once. 161. How was it given to you ? —They put so much in a pannikin, mixed it up with water, and you drink it. All boys who are ill get it. 162. What is the effect upon you? —It burns your inside and makes you vomit. The boys do not like it. 163. Mr. Bush.] Does it make you well very quickly ?—You get over the sickness in a while. Sometimes they would give you a spell by letting you sit in the yard. 164. It cures your illness?— Yes ; not always. 165. Mr Harley.] You get well afterwards ? —Yes. 166. Do you know when you complain of being ill that you are going to get a dose of mustard ?—Quite certain of that. 166 a. Were you often ill up there?— Sometimes the boys were ill, and would not tell. 167. Was there any difficulty in getting the boys to take this mustard?— Yes; sometimes the Brothers would stand over them with a stick, and make them take it. 168. Did you get plenty of bread with the stew ?—Sometimes I did not get enough; but I was well satisfied with what I did get. 169. If you did not get enough, why were you satisfied ?—I never ate as much as I could. 170. Did the boys ever complain among themselves, or to the Brothers, of being hungry ?— They complained among themselves. Ido not know whether they complained to the Brothers. I think some did ; but others were afraid. 171. Why were they afraid?—l do not know. 172. Did the boys seem afraid of the Brothers ?—They were not afraid of some, but were of the others. 173. Of whom were they afraid ?—Brother Wibertus. 174. Were the Brothers kind to you ?—Some were, and some were not. Brothers Augustine and Damien were kind; and nearly all the others unkind. 175. Have you ever seen any boys picking up bits of food about the place ?—Yes; I saw a boy pick something out of the pig-bucket. That was only once. 176. Have you told Mr. Bout about this before?— Yes; this morning. I had not spoken to him before. 177. What you have said here, is that all true?— Yes. 178. You have not said it because Mr. Eout asked you to ?—No. 179. Mr. Fell.] Did you milk the cows? —Yes. There wire about eight. 180. Did you learn how to do it there ?—Yes. 181. How far is the top of the hill, where you got the wood, from the boundary-fence?— The fence goes up to the top of the hill. I think the bush is inside the boundary. It is just over the top of the hill. About forty or fifty boys went up the hill at once, with flax and staples for the wood. We would take one log each, or two smaller boys would take one log. 182. Would you rather do it or your lessons?—l would rather go up the hill. 183. I suppose it was a bit of fun rather than otherwise?— Some of them enjoyed it. 184. Who did the other work ?—The boys chopped the wood, and the fencing and hay-making was done by the Brothers, assisted by the boys. 185. What are you doing now?— Doing general work—cleaning horses, knives, &c. 186. You learnt how to clean knives at the Orphanage ?—Yes. 187. Did you have a knife and fork laid for you at the Orphanage ?—Yes. We used to have them with the stew.