E.—3b

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peared to get better after this, and he asked leave to go to the Orphanage on a visit. He went away, but he did not come back. 167. Did he ever make complaints about the Orphanage?—No; I asked him once how he liked it, and he said "Very well." 168. Are you familiar with the character of this cloth [cloth produced] ?—Yes ; it is a black moleskin or beaver cloth. It is very serviceable stuff. The white and gray of it are frequently used for making up clothes. 169. What is that other material [produced] , and is it useful for making shirts ?—lt is flax shirting. It would make good shirts ; but they would be rather hard until washed. This one is a finer material, and will make very good shirts. 170. Mr. Harley.] How many boys have you had from the Orphanage ?—Four. 171. Did they all cry to go back? —Two ran away, one cried to go back, and the other went to the hospital. That was Lane. 172. Did you find them all untruthful? —No; only two. 173. Did you put that down to their bringing-up at the Orphanage? —I do not put it down to anything. You may form your own opinion. 174. You have supplied clothes to the Orphanage ?—I have supplied some. 175. You remember the visit of the Charitable Aid Board to the Orphanage two months ago ? Did you supply a quantity of clothing then? Did you supply ten dozen shirts ?—I did. 176. Mr. Wardell.} When did you supply the shirts?—On the 4th June. 177. Mr. Harley.] Did you supply anything else then ?—No ; nothing at all. 178. What have you supplied since then ?—Hosiery ; fifty-three dozen pairs of stockings, on the 16th June. William Waking Dβ Castro, examined on oath. 179. Mr. Fell.] You are Deputy Land Registrar, and hold other Government offices for this District, and you live at Stoke ?—Yes. 180. You are a sportsman, and know the Stoke Orphanage grounds well?— Yes ; I have been there several times. 181. What did you consider were the relations between the Brothers and the boys?—bo tar as I know, they have always been very friendly. I have been to some of their picnics, &c, and the boys always seemed fond of their masters. They appeared to be well treated, and to enjoy, themselves thoroughly. I have frequently seen the boys at work about the farm. 182. Have you seen them in the schoolroom? —Yes ; on one occasion. 183. Have you had meals there ? —No. 184. Have you heard any complaints as to the boys' food, clothing, or anything else ? —No. 185. Mr. Wardell.] Have the boys ever had, in conversation with you, an opportunity to complain if they wished?— Yes. \ Arthuk Henby Leapeb, examined on oath. 186. Mr. Fell.] You are a builder in Nelson, and bandmaster to the Stoke Orphanage Brass g an( j ') Yes. I have been bandmaster about four years and a half. 187. How many boys are in the band? How often do they practice ?—There are thirty-five at present, and they practice two or three times a week. 188. Under what system are the boys picked for the band ?—They are picked from the choir, after being brought on by the tonic sol-fa system. 189. Is the band a success?— Yes ;it is. 190. Can you say if the boys are on friendly terms with the Brothers ?—Very friendly. I have seen nothing to lead me to suppose to the contrary. 191. Do the boys seem well fed and cared for? —Yes. 192. Are they well clothed ?—Yes. They appear to be decently clothed. I have been at work up there, and I have had meals with the band boys. 193. Did you have some of the celebrated Irish stew? —No; I had bread and meat and 194. Have you seen the ordinary boys at meals ?— I have seen them at a distance. I never saw signs of them not having enough to eat. 195. And you have heard no complaints that they did not have enough to eat ?—No.

Wednesday, Ist August, 1900. Hectob Cebf, known in religion as Beotheb Loetus, examined on oath. 1 Mr. Fell.] You are the director of the Stoke Orphanage and a member of the Marist Brothers?— Yes. I have been a member of the Marist Brothers for forty-three years, and have held my present position at Stoke for eight years and a half. 2. Before that, where were you? —In Sydney, holding a similar position as director of a 3 ' The Marist Brothers are, I understand, a French brotherhood, vowed to celibacy and poverty ?—Yes. There are about six thousand members of the Order, with branches all over the world. 4. What is the primary object of the Order ?—Teaching the poorer classes. 5.' Is there a centre in Australia ?—Yes; in Sydney there is a provincial house, and the head officer of the provincial branch is styled the Brother Provincial. 6. Were you the first director of the brotherhood at Stoke?— There was one before me. The Brothers had had charge of the institution about eighteen months before I took office.