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him up in solitary confinement, and keep him there till his case is heard by a Visiting Justice. I have no power to give him bread and water. Ido not possess that power as regards prisoners under sentence. The rules in existence since 1892 give powers similar to those I possess. Charles Bagley sworn and examined. I was a member of the Committee appointed to inquire into the affairs of the Hospital and the Costley Home. I visited the Costley Home on the 12th June, 1903. I thought a Royal Commission was required. Generally it appeared to be very dirty. There was an increased expenditure, of which the inmates did not appear to be receiving the benefit. I did not think the Home was being used for the purpose for which it was erected. A large amount of washing from the Hospital was being done when we were there. Some old men were working at it under conditions that would not be permitted by the Factory Acts. The machinery was antiquated. The drying-room was at about 120 degrees, and some old men were working in this. I found they worked in that room from seven to seven and a half hours per day. 1 think that for old men to be put to work under those conditions is inhuman. The general drainage is very bad. It is inimical to the health of the inmates. The piggery was the only place in the Home that was clean. The pigs had cleaner beds to lie on than the patients. That is from a pig's point of view and a human point of view. The kitchen and adjacent offices were disgracefully dirty. New cooking-stoves are required. The old ladies' wards were in a passable condition. The No. 6 infirmary ward requires great improvement. The closets and urinals were very offensive. The floors generally were dirty, but the weather had been wet. The wards generally could be much more comfortable for the inmates without much extra expenditure The beds and bedsteads should be swept away and burned. The wards were neither tidy nor clean. A scrubbing-brush and some flannels were lying under many of the beds. By Mr. Cotter: I cannot say how many times I have seen the Home. I visited it twice officially. The men should never be sent in the drying-room at all. I concluded that the Hospital washing was neither properly fumigated, sterilised, nor disinfected before being sent to the Home for washing. I think that had something to do with the death-rate at the Home. John Wisdom Shackelford recalled. I am of opinion that there should be two Boards —one to manage the Hospital, and one for the charitable aid. By Dr. Anderson: I think it very undesirable that the one Board should have control of both institutions. Frederick William King recalled, and examined by Mr. Cotter. I took charge of the Costley Home in October, 1890. I have been Medical Officer since. The Home would be better on more rising ground. The ground there is so porous that the water runs away very soon. Ido not think the dampness there will affect the health of the inmates. I have not noticed that the position of Ihe Home has been detrimental to the patients under my charge. With the exception of occasional outbreaks of influenza, we have never had any outbreaks of any diseases at all. I do not think the position of the Home detrimental to rheumatics. If I saw patients being put to work that was detrimental to them, I could at once stop it. With the dryingroom at a temperature of 120 deg. Fahr., I do not think it would hurt the men who were working there. No complaint has been made to me about that work. Death-rate, 1902-3 :In 1902 and 1903 there was an epidemic of influenza. Dr. Girdler was in charge. His first certificate was signed 18th March, 1902. There is nothing in that certificate that would lead me to believe that either the situation of the Home or the Hospital washing would account for the increase in the death-rate. There were fourteen deaths resulting from influenza. I do not think the Hospital washing should be sent to the Home. All kinds of diseases may be brought with it. I do not think that any disease has been brought there in that way. We never had any infectious disease there. Influenza was prevalent all over the place at that time; we had it at the Home. The freedom from zymotic diseases is mostly due to the age of the inmates. The same drugs are supplied to the Home as are supplied to the Hospital. The Manager has no right to interfere with my prescriptions. I taught Mr. Moss to use the catheter and the morphia hypodermic to the cancer patients. I consider the position of the Costley Home to be one of the healthiest in Auckland. Patients sent in a bad condition from the Hospital have improved greatly. These patients were supposed to be incurable. I think it would be wise for the Board to have power to prevent certain patients from going outside the grounds. Augustus E. Skynner recalled. The old men in the drying-room assist to hang up the clothes, and take them down when dry. A man would be inside the room about an hour and three-quarters to two hours during the whole day. They were employed five days a week. No complaints have been made about that work. One man may be in a little longer. There are nineteen men there at the present time.

Saturday, 21st November, 1903. John Fitt sworn and examined. lam the Mayor of Parnell. I was a member of the Committee to inquire into, inter alia, the management of the Costley Home in August, 1903. I visited the Costley Home some time after