23
H.—26
watchman is on all night. Kinghorn is dead. Mrs. Gardner is discharged. Mrs. Gertrude Campbell is away. Ido not know where. Ellen Pell sworn, and examined by Mr. Cotter. lam second laundress in the Home. I was called at the inquiry. My statement made there is correct. During Mr. Moss's time the clothes were filthy with vermin. There is a great improvement now since they left. At present there are six women in the laundry. The staff is large enough, and we have no difficulty in overtaking the work. We are assisted by some old men. Some wash, some hang out the clothes and do what they can. Francis Ann Wood sworn and examined. I am third laundress. I remember the inquiry. The evidence 1 gave there is correct. During Mr. Moss's time there were vermin on the clothes. The conditions are very much improved. By Mr. Moss: I have known you and Mrs. Moss for nine years. 1 never saw you unkind except in Kinghorn's case. I noticed no bruises on his head. He did not complain. Francis McGuire sworn and examined. lam an inmate of the Home. I remember the inquiry. The evidence I gave is correct. Thomas McCathie sworn and examined. lam an inmate of the Home. 1 remember giving evidence at the inquiry. My statement is correct. Timothy O'Callaghan sworn and examined. lam an inmate. I remember giving evidence at the inquiry. The statement 1 made then is correct. By Mr. Moss: I was never under the influence of drink. You took two glasses of grog from my pocket. I never used bad language. You were a bad man. Ciiahlotte Elizabeth Woods sworn, and examined by Mr. Moss. I have known you for ten years. I have visited the Home occasionally. I never heard of any act of cruelty either by Mrs. Moss or yourself. The Home alwa3's seemed to me to be perfectly clean. I heard no complaints. Since you left the state of the Home is the same. It is just about the same as when you were here. (Mr. Moss stated that he had no more witnesses to examine.) John Rawlings sworn and examined. I have been here since the place was built. 1 must say that things go on very much more comfortably now than they used to do in Mr. Moss's time. Our food is prepared better and there is more of it. We are kept cleaner. By Mr. Moss: Things seem to go more harmoniously now. You do not hear the constant growling now. You and I were always friendly. You dealt witli a wound on my thigh. It became gangrenous. You gave me the means of curing it. I remember that O'Callaghan was drunk one night. I never saw you neglecting him. I never saw an act of unkindness on your part. As far as my experience goes you were kind. You were always kind to me. AjniiE Bramwej.l sworn and examined. I have been a visitor for eight or nine years. The people appear to be more contented and cleaner now than during Mr. Moss's management. By Mr. Moss: I have known you for six years and a half. I did not write an anonymous letter to the Herald. My niece did. I knew she was going to write it, and I knew what was in it I did not know who was responsible for what was wrong. There was no fire in the women's ward. The women were cold and shivering. It was very cold. I did not know what your powers were. I did not complain to you.
Thursday, 19th November, 1903. Rev. W. E. Gillam recalled, and examined by Mr. Moss. I visited the Home about two years ago. I went through the wards with His Excellency the Governor. In No. 6 Ward I thought the ward was not as clean as formerly. The smell was very bad, but No. 6 Ward never was satisfactor}-. I felt there ought to have been properly trained nurses to attend to the inmates. The cancer ward was always unsatisfactory. I saw no improvements in No. 6 Ward. I think the members of the Charitable Aid Board should be elected by the ratepayers and not nominated by the local bodies, and that women should be eligible for election, and that with women on the Board there would be more attention to the female inmates at the Home, especially the maternity side, and more attention to the sick. George Joseph Garland sworn, and examined by Mr. Cotter. I am Chairman of the Charitable Aid Board, and have been so for a year. I have been a member for three years. My opinion of the Home when I visited it was unfavourable. When inmates were brought into the Committee-room questions would be put to them. They would be