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written simply and hurriedly, just as he saw things and spoke with the
staff, conveyed, more than all his other elaborately and carefu lly written
articles, his sincerity, concern and great humanity :
Infant chi ldren playing in the yard without exception without
hats or bonnets on - necks and arms better covered than at my
·former visit - had a better physical aspect, and more animated -
clothing good .
.... urine tubs are used in the boys ' dormitories - with this ·
practice I always, felt the greatest disgust in the Convict
Establishment ....
Girls in the school are taller in proportion to age than boys -
some idiotic looking: a few fine intelligent heads and faces -
7 recently discharged from hospital after being dangerously ill
from typhoid fever - two still very' much emaciated who miss
their wine and other extras - could eat more - would like more
to eat - could eat more bread if they had butter to it ....
Girls ' large dormitory corresponds with boys ' - contains 56 iron
beds , with broad iron lattice bottom - the bedding cons ists of
a very thin hair mattress, 2 blankets , 1 rug, 2 sheets - very
scant hair pillow - on · lying down on several beds , I could feel
painfully the sharp edges of the iron beneath ....
In addition to the large mass of documentary proof which he offered, Hall
also demonstrated the inadequacy of the rations by exhibiting the single
potato, the small mutton chop , the quarter pint of milk, the pound and a
quarter of bread and the pinches of rice, tea and sugar, hitherto thought
sufficient to nourish the children. At the conclusion of his evidence ,
he read a memorandum to the Commissioners , protesting against the
composition of the Board which permitted two of its members to sit in
judgment on their own acts , and to cross-examine him to the fullest extent >
whilst he, a witness, was debarred from questioning them.
Actually the tide of the old, outworn ways was turning at last,
precipitated by the obvious injustice and futility of the Board of Enquiry.
Caught in the net of its own impotency, the Commission haggled and
procrastinated until McDowell, one of the only two non-official members ,
resigned as a consequence of Bedford's continual offensive conduct at the
meetings .
On August 3 the Mercury, suddenly and dramatically, threw all
its weight behind Hall,. goaded into offensive action against the Government
by the case of a boy of 13 or 14, Michael Folley, who had been an inmate
of the Orphans Schools .
The Mercury described how a "highly respectable
citizen" of Hobarton applied for one of the lads as an apprentice.
Michael arrived, he was pallid, wan and _weak , suffering from brutality
and want .
When
... .