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70. How did you come across him?—At the Hospital. 71. Did you know him before?— No. ' ~ 72. You had never been to his rooms to have your teeth attended to?— No. 73. What did he come to you at the Hospital about?— About this punishment. 74. What were the words he used to you? Did he tell you who he was?— Yes. That was on Monday. I had seen him with books at the Hospital on Sunday. 75. How did he know you were aTe Oranga girl? —I do not know. 76. From his conversation you found he did know?— Yes. He asked me about my punishment, and I told him. 77. When he came to you first, what did Mr. Fountain say? —He asked me about a letter he showed me. 78. Did you know the writer of the_letters? —No. Mr. Fountain showed me the writing, and I thought it was Miss Howden's. 79. Have you any doubt about it? —Yes, I have now. 80. I will read the letters, " Mr. Fountain, —There is lying in Christchurch Hospital, in a dangerous state, a girl named E S . She ran away from Te Oranga, was brought back in a state of starvation a few days ago, was placed in a cell and given bread and water, was strapped and received twelve cuts, was in a state of collapse, and was ordered by Doctor into a proper bed in the Home, then removed to Hospital, where she now lies " : Is that one? —Yes. 81. Is this the other : " Mrs. Branting will try to prevent any one speaking to the girl in the Hospital, and will get her back into the Home as quickly as possible, then all chance of proving the statements sent to you will be hopeless. Miss Mills, an attendant, witnessed the strapping. Trusting in your confidence not to be the means of a bad time " ?—Yes. 82. These letters exactly describe what took place in this institution? —Yes. 83. So that whoever wrote them must have been intimately acquainted with everything that was going on?— Yes. 84. And Mr. Fountain came, and wanted to be the good Samaritan?— Yes. 85. And you told him? —Yes, just as I have said it here. 86. Did he tell you there was any commotion in the papers?—No; he asked me if I had seen about the hair-cutting in the papers, and I said Yes. 87. Anything else? —No. 88. When did you give this statement to Mr. Fountain?— The same day that he saw me. 89. Did he ever bring any one to you?—He brought Mr. Laurenson and Mr. Ell, but I do not know whether Mr. Fountain brought them. 90. Did they tell you they had come to see you?— Yes. 91. Did Miss Howden ever come to see you?— No. 92. Did you see her at all?— Only when I was back at the Home. 93. Did any one else visit you at the Hospital?— No. 94. While you were away from the Home absconding, did you ever see Miss Howden? —No. 95. You have not seen Miss Howden since she left the Home?— No. The last time I saw her was on. the Saturday night before I left for the Hospital. 96. Before you left this Home, did you have any conversation with Miss Howden? —No. 97. Had you nothing to do with her at all? —Yes. 98. What was it? —She came and asked me to do a little sewing for her—to turn a coat. She asked me why I was crying, and, when I did not reply, said, " Leave it if you do not like to say anything about it." 99. You knew you were going to be called at this inquiry? —I thought I was, but I did not know for certain. 100. You have not heard from Mr. Fountain since you gave him that statement? —No. 101. What made you think you would be called?—l saw the other girls going out, and I knew I had given a statement to Mr. Fountain. 102. When away you had your teeth repaired?— Yes. 103. It was by some dentist at Ashburton ?—Yes. 1.04. What did the dental work cost?—£l 10s. 105. Did you have that money on you?— No. 106. Who paid it?—l had that given me by a person. 107. Who by?— Mr. L . 108. Were you with him in Timaru?—No. 109. At Ashburton ?—Yes. 110. How long did you live with him while you were away?—l did not live with him. 111. Were you with him at all? —Yes. 112. Staying in the same house? —Yes. 113. Which house was that? —At Ps, at Hinds. 114. How long did you stay at P 's?—A week. 115. Under what name did you stay with L ?—M X . 116. Did L stay there the whole week?—No, he was away some time. 117. And always came back at night? —No; he was away two nights. 118. Out of how long?—He stayed there for four days. 119. How much more money did he give you besides the £1 10s. ?—He helped me to get some clothes. 120. Who paid your board and lodging at P 's?—He did. 121. Where did you say good-by to him?—l left Hinds and went to Timaru. 122. Where did L —— go?—I do not know. 123. When you left Mrs. C 's the first time, you were in Lyttelton ?—Yes.

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