15

H.—26

was not clean; stinking; not changed enough. I mean the mattresses. The other things were well enough. I never saw Mrs. Moss do anything wrong. I heard a great row, and I saw Mr. and Mrs. Moss and a male attendant (Johnston) dragging Mrs. Gertrude Campbell about. They had si lot of trouble with her. Her clothes were torn, and her limbs bare. When they carried her in they were all exhausted. I did not assist. She was there many days, perhaps a fortnight. She used to complain. She had no books or papers. I took her a paper. I threw it across the wall. I never saw her out. I gave Carpenter a bath one day. Mr. Moss came in and said he had got lice. He said, "We will have to shave him." He put him in a chair. His feet were on the concrete. I said, " Will lie be able to stand it? " Mr. Moss said it would be a good thing if he was taken away. Mr. Moss shaved him and put him in a cold bath again. It was a bad thing, I thought. He was suffering —joints crippled. He had to be lifted in and out of bed. He was very weak and emaciated. He was not able to make any complaint. He died soon after that bath. His bed was very dirty. There was an old man called Drake. He and assistant Johnston had an altercation. They had a wrestling-match, and fell on the bed and broke it. Johnston was up first. He dragged him by the heels along the floor and out on to the front pavement. I remonstrated with Johnston. I told Drake to report it. He did so. The Manager, Mr. Moss, looked at him and smiled, and said, " Serve you right." Drake was dumbfounded. After that Johnston wanted to put him out of the kitchen. He said he would put him in Mount Eden. I remember Dunn, aged seventy-four. Johnston caught him by the throat and ran him out at 3 p.m. I brought a letter to the old man from the Manager that night. About cS p.m. he was dead. He appeared to me to be in good health. Except what I have told you, I never saw Mr. Moss do anything wrong. He was always civil and courteous to me and the inmates, except what I have told you. I remember old Greenwood. He was put in the refractory-ward. He used to take the clothes off the bed. He was very weak. He was strapped down to the bed. He was not violent. These things were inhuman. That was the reason I left the Home. When I left I had a flattering testimonial. I produce it. I never heard of an inquest when I was up at the Home. By Mr. Most: I know the construction of the refractory-ward. Ido not know how far the laths are apart. Mrs. Campbell was used harshly. I saw her struggling. I did not report the vermin on Carpenter to you. The bath was tepid. The bath was the same water, and cold, when you put him in after shaving. I do not know Drake's age. He was an old man. He made his complaint. I told him if he did not I would. You told me not to encourage Johnston to drink. I told you that if you did not keep Johnston from knocking the patients about I would give him a good hiding or leave. I was not overworked. You never remonstrated with me. You were very good to me. [Report bj' Mr. Moss produced as to McGovern's desiring to fight Johnston.] The reason I did not report to you was because Johnston was my superior, an-d he should have done so. David B. Smith sworn, and examined by Mr. Hesketh. lam chief cook on the " Rarawa." I know Mr. Moss. I was cook at the Home about two years ago. 1 cannot recollect much about the management. It is too long since. I do not remember Kinghorn. I know Mr. Garland, the present Chairman. I remember the cancer case. I had a conversation with the Chairman about the food I had to prepare for the cancer patient. I said it was not fit to be prepared for any one; it was bill-sticker's paste. The patient was ordered cornflour. I asked Mrs. Moss for cornflour. She told me to use ordinary flour with salt in it. I could not get cornflour. I refused to use flour. I showed the preparation to Mr. Garland. He admitted it was not fit to give to any one. I was there about October and November, 1900. I did not speak to Mrs. Moss. A great many of the patients used to buy eggs for themselves. I had eggs and milk from Mrs. Moss. I was asked by her to cook eggs twice over for the patients. I refused to do so. Mrs. Moss wrote the names of the patients on the eggs that were to be boiled over again. I had to refuse Miss Mark milk for a patient. Mrs. Moss told me not to let her have it- that some milk was given to the ducks. The Home, in my opinion, was kept clean. By Mr. Moss: I remember unpleasantnesses which took place between me and some of the inmates. I do not know their names or the name of one old man. He was loafing, and not scrubbing down as he should have done. I was not irritable. I remember kicking over my table. Ido not remember wanting to fight the butcher. He wanted to fight me. I remember showing Mr. Garland some preparation in a saucepan. Mrs. Moss gave me orders; I never had orders from you. There was a diet-book in the kitchen. I smashed the egg before the Committee. Ido not know that there was any bad feeling between us. I remember Miss Mark. She did not influence me in any way. Ido not remember any of the patients complaining about their food. Fhancks Elizabeth Williams sworn, and examined by Mr. Hesketh. lam a missioner to the streets and lanes. I visited the Home every week. I have done that for seven or eight years. I spent from 2to 4 p.m. at the Home. The people were dirty, and we had to be very careful always. We did not see much of Mr. and Mrs. Moss. The inmates complained very much about the food. The vegetables that were grown there were all sent to the Hospital, except the coarser ones. I think the beds are cleaner now. The Home does not look clean. lam of opinion that there were never sufficient attendants. The nurse (female) who was supposed to look after the old people was used for the maternity ward. At first we used to see the men as well as the women, but now we only see the women. I remember the inquiry. The Home might be much cleaner. By Mr. Moss: I never made any complaints to you about uncleanliness. We went to look after their souls rather than their bodies. I never heard any complaints about your treatment,