44

E.—3b

148. Do you think it desirable to have cemeteries on the grounds of institutions ?—No. 149.' Mr. Wardell.] On what grounds do you think it undesirable ?—Mostly on sentimental grounds. A cemetery has a very depressing effect. -_ 150. Mr. Harley.] Is this " St. Mary's School," Nelson, as gazetted?—lt is one branch of it. It does not require to be further gazetted. . 151. There is a difference as to the rights of inspection between Government and private schools ?—There are two sections of the Act referring to that—49 and 50. [Sections read.] 152. There is far more latitude as to public inspection at Government than at private schools ? Y es 153. Mr. Wardell.] Is there no regulation limiting the right of public inspection at Government schools'?— Section 49 in a general way, and all regulations which the Governor in Council may make under section 46. ~ . , , v 154. Mr. Harley.] Can you tell me how frequently this school, within the last two years, has been inspected by an officer of your Department ?—lt has been visited four times during that time by an authorised officer of the Education Department. 155. Of course the Department is aware that the school is under the management of unmarried men?— Yes. , , „ 156. Do you know how long it is since a matron or other women were employed there ! Within your time ?—No. 157. Mr. Wardell.] You understand there was a matron there some years ago >. —Yes. 158. Mr. Harley.] Do you consider unmarried men are likely to manage boys as well as married men and matrons?—l think this is a very big question, and it would take a very long time to settle it. A great deal is to be said even by those who differ from my views. 159. Mr. Bush.] Can you express your opinion?—My opinion is that there should be matrons ; but I attach a good deal of weight to some arguments used to the contrary. 160. Mr. Wardell.] You express that opinion with some diffidence? —I have no hesitation m giving my opinion; but one must attach a good deal of weight to the views of others whose judgment you respect. I think it is desirable to make the conditions of the life of the inmates as similar as possible to the conditions under which they will live in after-life. Ido not think one matron would be enough. I think it would be worse to have all women than to have all men to manage boys up to the age of fifteen. _ 161. Mr. Harley.] You think they should be in the same conditions as m home-life ?—Yes; as natural as you can make them under the circumstances. 162. Do you know St. Mary's property pretty well? —I have not been to the boundary, but I have a general acquaintance with it. I think there is between 500 and 800 acres. Most of it is 163. You know that it runs down to the main road, and that there is a considerable area of level land upon which vegetables, &c, could be grown readily, and where cows could be and are kept ?—Yes. 164. Are there as great facilities there for producing vegetables, fruit, and grain as at Burnham and Caversham ?—All the low-lying soil is evidently better than at Burnham. The principal parts of the pasture uplands are better than at Burnbam. 165. Taking it altogether, it is a very nice property ?—Yes. 165 a. Is it as good as Caversham or Burnham ?—There is only a little over 25 acres at Caversham. At Burnham there is between 1,000 and 1,100 acres. 166. So far as the facilities for producing eatables for boys, the Stoke property is the best ?— Yes; or it could be made so. Taking it all round, it is better than Burnham, and I should be glad to exchange. 167. When you were in Nelson a month ago you saw a number of the former inmates of the school?— Yes ;on 26th June I saw five or six in Mr. Rout's office and in the street. They were mostly boys who had left two years ago or more. 168. They made statements to you concerning the school ?—Yes. 169. Are you the chief officer of the department ?—Yes. 170. Did you report to anybody?— Yes ; the Minister of Education. 171. These statements dealt almost entirely with matters beyond two years back, did they not ?—Mostly. 172. Mr. Fell.] How many times have you yourself visited the school? —Once; on the 25th June. t 173. Mr. Wardell.] How long have you held your position ? —A year and four months. 174. Mr. Fell.] Referring to the rooms in which the boys were confined, were the three small rooms in a group like what might have been intended for small bedrooms ?—Yes; they might have been used for that purpose. 175. Were the walls continued to the ceilings?— No. 176. What about the partitions ?—They must have been contemplated from the beginning. 177. Did they appear to have been used to sleep in? —No ; there was one used as a photo-graphic-room. 178. I believe there have been considerable difficulties in reference to punishments at Burnham?—No ; complaints have been made, but there have been no difficulties. n 179. What were the complaints ?—They were founded on popular talk. 180. In what sort of rooms are boys confined at Burnham? —In two special rooms built for the purpose. » 181. Mr. Bush.] Can you describe them ?—They have more the appearance of small pohceeells than those at Stoke. 182. Mr. Fell.] Have they windows or apertures in the door?— Yes ; there is a slit in the door, which can be closed.