F B .]

H.—2l

95. lam testing your credibility. Did you not live at the Thames with a man?—l did not. 96. Where did you live at the Thames? —I stayed at X 's boardinghouse. 97. When you were at the Rev. W 's you got on very well? —Yes. 98. He was very good to you?— Yes. 99. Were you teaching in the Sunday School? —Yes. 100. For how long?— All the time I was there. 101. And being taught music? —No. 102. Can you play the organ?— Yes. 103. Did you play in church?—l did not. 104. Were you in the choir?— Yes. 105. I think you were left at home one day with another girl?— Yes. 106. And you hooked it off from the house? —The day I went off the girl was not there. 107. Who did you go away with? —By myself. 108. Were you found at 2 o'clock that morning in a haystack with a man? —I was by myself when found. 109. Had you been sleeping there with a man?— No. 110. Had you been there with a man at all? —No. 111. If people say they found you there, and that a man was on the stack with you, that is absolutely untrue? —It is. 112. The police say you were found on the stack with a man: you are quite sure that is not true?- —Yes. 113. Were you speaking to a man that day?— Yes. 114. How far was this stack from the main road? —Just at the side of the main road. 115. What were you doing in the stack? —Sitting there waiting. 116. How far from the Rev. W 's home?— About a mile. 117. Why did you not go home to where they were treating you kindly?— Because I did not wish to go back. 118. What single reason was there to induce you to leave that home where apparently you were being treated kindly in every way?—l do not think I will answer any more of these questions. 119. The Commissioner.] It is not for you to say whether you will answer the questions or not. You have to tell us why you left a home that you describe as a comfortable home at which you were well treated : why did you leave that home?—[No answer]. 120. Mr. Russell.] I am not asking these questions for mere idle curiosity: Why did you not go to your home?—[No answer.] 121. You say you were in the cell for a month?— Yes. 122. You mean the cell and detention-yard?— Yes. 123. The cell opens on to the yard? —Yes. 124. Is it true that there are two or three windows looking into the detention-yard?— Yes. 125. So an} r one in these rooms can see exactly what is going on?— Yes. 126. I may take it you had the run of the cell and the yard? —Yes. 127. Was your bed the same sort as you slept in upstairs?— With the exception of the bedstead. 128. Quite comfortable?— Yes; but it was hard. 129. You knew you were put in the cell because of what the Matron thought of your misconduct at Waikari? —Yes. 130. If it was true you had been with a man on that stack you will admit you were properly punished?—l was punished exactly the same as other girls who absconded. 131. You agree that every girl is here to try and be reformed? —That is what they say we are here for. 132. Are you satisfied the Home and the people in it are trying to put you in a position so that when you go out into the world you will be decent women ?—Yes, they do try, and then they turn round and tell us we would do this and that and the other thing. 133. Is that not when you do something that is wrong?— No. 134. But if another girl tries to abscond, does not the Matron point out before you all the folly of what she has done, and the danger to herself ?—Not always. 135. Does not the Matron, before prayers in the evening, always hold a sort of chit-chat with you girls, and encourage you to tell her anything that is on your minds?— Yes, she tells us to tell her anything. 136. So that if you have a grievance it can be cleared up ?—She does not say it will be cleared up. 137. And many girls take advantage of that opportunity?— Yes. 138. Does she not on many occasions use that opportunity to give you girls a sort of moral lecture to try and help you along?— Yes. 139. You say you were punished unjustly for sitting on a girl's bed?— Yes. 140. Were you ever found in bed with a girl named N H ? —I was not in her bed; I was on it. 141. Were you partly in her bed?— No. 142. Were you undressed? —Yes, and rolled in a blanket. I sat on her bed with a blanket round me. It was a cold evening, and I was talking to her. 143. Was that against the rules?— Yes. 144. Why did you want to break the rules?—We were all talking that night. It was to be one of the girl's birthday,, and before we went to bed we said we would see who would be the first to wake up in the morning and wish her many happy returns of the day. When I waked up I sat talking to her.

23