E.—3b

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186. Eegarding the charge as to the food of the boys [charge read]: What opportunities have you had during the last two years of judging as to the sufficiency of the food ?—I have paid forty or fifty official visits each year to the school. I have seen the boys at meals, and I have never heard a complaint from either the resident or service inmates that would lead me to suppose there was any deficiency as to food. I have always talked to the boys in a friendly way for years back, and I think they would have complained to me if they had reason. Former inmates of the school, on revisiting Nelson, always come to see me, and they generally go up to the school and spend the day there, and sometimes the night. I have also met them in Wellington and other places. When I went to Chicago with Archbishop Eedwood, I was not three hours in San Francisco before two Stoke boys came to see me. With regard to punishments, a little over two years ago a boy at the school complained to me that he had been severely caned on the hand by Brother Wibertus. I called Brother Loetus and told him that this must not continue. I believe that shortly after this Brother Wibertus was removed from the office of prefect to the tailoring. When the visitors were at the school after the visit of the Charitable Aid Board, the boy James, after he had been examined, came to me and said, " Now will you get Brother Loetus to let me go out on a farm instead of going to school ? " This is about all I can remember. 187. As to the charge of insufficient clothing: what is your idea about that?—l knew that the boys had a best suit, a picnic suit, and so on. Visitors had often remarked how well the boys were clothed. The working-clothes of some may have looked untidy and dirty ; but some boys are untidy naturally. 188. You think the clothing is sufficiently warm and comfortable?—l never examined the clothes; but the boys have always had a remarkable freedom from sickness. Their health has been extraordinary. No complaints were ever made to me as to a deficiency of clothing. 189. The boys have not complained to you about the hill-work ?—No ; I never heard about it till I came here. I have been up the hill myself with visitors. 190. With regard to the cemetery : several people are buried there, I believe ?—Two Brothers and four or five boys who have died have been buried there. No boys have died during the last six years. I conduct most of the funerals myself, and the boys and Brothers all attend. The late Mr. Patrick Byrne, of Eichmond, from whom I received a bequest of £1,000 for the Orphanage, was buried there at his own request. We have no Catholic cemetery at Eichmond or Stoke, the nearest being nine or ten miles away, at Appleby, in one direction, and nearly nine miles away, at Nelson, in the other. [Here a letter from the Education Department, referring to the removal of the boy Skilton to Burnham, was put in. The letter, dated March last, stated that the boy Skilton would be transferred to Burnham when arrangements were completed there for receiving such cases. It was expected that this would be about two months from the date of the letter.] 191. As to the seventh charge [charge read]: Would you have any objection to the school being brought into line with Government industrial schools as to the rights of inspection ?— No; I would be rather pleased. 192. Mr. Wardell.] Do you mean you would like the school to be open to inspection by every Justice of the Peace ?—Yes ; I did not know it was not so until Mr. Hogben informed me. 193. Mr. Fell.] Would you be willing that section 49 of the Industrial Schools Act [section read] should apply to your school ?—Yes. 194. Mr. Harley.] Do you think that the food of the boys as described has been sufficiently varied ?—No; oh, no. I think it ought to be varied more. 195. As to clothing : I suppose you did not approve of the one pair of socks for each boy ? — No. 196. Do not you think the boys should have under-shirts and under-pants in winter ?—Yes ; I think they should have them. Of course, some boys do not care about underclothing. I have had boys myself who did not care about it. Of course, it would be healthier and warmer for the boys. 197. Mr. Hogben.] You referred to what you understood to be certain directions that there should be no classification of children. You refer to that as the consequence of the parliamentary Committee which sat about 1893. Was not the evidence given to that Committee somewhat varied in character ? You received a circular to attend ?—I cannot remember whether I received the circular. But I happened to be in Wellington at the time. 198. I suppose you would not remember whether the recommendation was in the evidence or in the decision? —I think it was in the decision. Colonel Hume and the late Eev. Mr. Habens, then Secretary for Education, were exactly of my mind. A member of the Upper House had introduced the measure for separating the, criminal children from the indigent,_ and the Committee was the result of this proposal. In my experience in Nelson I have made it a rule, when boys were sent here without knowing the reason why they were sent, not to tell them. When a boy arrived, I would ask him if he knew why he had been sent here. If he did know, I would say, "Do not speak about it." If not, I would not tell him. The result has been that in a short time there has been no difference in the school between the two classes. One reason for this view has been the fact that if it were known that a boy was sent for, an employer of a service inmate might afterwards come to me and say, " You did not tell me that the boy came from the criminal class." I would, however, recommend that lads sent back from service owing to bad habits should be kept apart from other boys. 199. Are you aware that during the last five or six years there has been throughout the world a great change of opinion in regard to this matter ?—-No. 200. Have you read Douglas Morrison's book on " Juvenile Delinquency"?— No. 201. From your knowledge of cases that have come before you lately, do you not think it is desirable there should be some classification ?—I should say that some boys—those over fourteen