The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prevalebit. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1886. THE PRISON GATE MISSION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1416, 25 November 1886, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prevalebit. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1886. THE PRISON GATE MISSION

No more thoroughly Christian enterprise can be accomplished than that of raising the fallen, for those who are engaged in endeavoring to restore their erring brothers and sisters are in the highest degree fulfilling the benevolent purposes of the Great Master who came “ to seek and to save them that are lost.” And there are none who need a helping hand so much as those who, having offended the laws of their country, are sentenced to terras of imprisonment, as on their release from gaol, it is a matter of the greatest possible difficulty for them to obtain honest employment, and were it not for the good offices of the charitably-dis-posed they would find it absolutely impossible to recover theit footing. Those then who in this colony, as well as at Home, have formed organisations whose special duty it is to seek the welfare of dischaiged prisoners are deserving of the highest honor and should receive the hearty support of the whole community. In New Zealand the history of the first year’s operations of such an organisation, “ The Prison Gate Mission,” lies before as we write. From this we gather that the Mission, of which Lady Jervois is the patroness, was begun in the month of January last by Mr and Mrs Reffles, under the auspices of the Blue Ribbon Gospel Temperance Union, and aided by the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, and was carried on very successfully, and in a great measure by their own exertions until October, 1885, when, by their request, a Committee of ladies and gentlemen were invited to superintend the work of the Mission. That work consists in the first place in meeting all discharged prisoners both from Lyttelton and Addington Gaols at the prison gates, and offering them a home until they can find employment, or obtain means to join their friends in Canterbury or elsewhere. It has been “the aim of the Committee,” we are told “ to seek both the spiritual and temporal welfare of the inmates,” and it is pleasing to learn that “many are the encouraging and grateful letters received by the Matron and Secretary, from men and women who have been helped and blessed, both in soul and body, during their stay in the Home; In some cases money has been remitted in small sums as some acknowledgment of the benefit received.” A correspondent, who takes a great interest in the work, writes, —“ All who come out of the gaols —both men and women —are brought to the Home and kept till work is obtained, and though we have many hard ens (some of those we have to deal with being the lowest of the low) yet I can truthfully say that many men, women, and boys, who have been taken in hand by the Mission are now leading industrious, honest, lives. Some of these were such deplorable objects that one almost lost heart at the sight of them, but love, kindness, and Cod’s grace, wrought upon them and gained their affections,” and thus led to their reformation. Of the extent of the good work done by the Mission some idea may be formed from the fact that during the year over 100 inmates have been in the Home, whose stay has varied according to circumstances and that eight of these have been helped away to various places in the Colony, at an expense of had to be specially raised.” This last statement is an indication that those who have the conduct of the operations of this valuable Mission are somewhat straitened for lack of funds, a state of things which is further demonstrated by the fact that whilst the amount spent during the year was 13s yd, the total amount of subscriptions received was only 14s iod. This would have left the Mission considerably in debt but for the fact that two members of the Committee have generously lent to its funds, free of interest, the sum ofj£»s each. The Committee say that they hope to be able to so conduct operations during the coming year as to bring the expenditure within the income of the Mission, but they earnestly appeal to the public for a more liberal support, without which “ this effort to help a class so much needing help will have to be much curtailed or even given up.” It is pointed out that “What is required is fixed subscriptions, however small, as these alone

enable the work to be carried on systematically and without incurring debt,” We heartily commend the claims of this noble enterprise to the support of the whole community, as the work is one which should command the sympathies of men and women of all classes, without distinction as 'o race or creed; and we sincerely hope that not a few who peruse this article will forthwith determine to give such assistance as they can afford—be it much or little—by enrolling themselves among the subscribers of the Prison Gate Mission, THE MAYORALTY ELECTION. Contrary to what appeared to bo th general expectation, the contest for the Mayoralty of Ashburton resulted in wba would bo described in racing parlance as an exceedingly close finish, and a win for Mr Sealy by a bare nose. Both candidates have served their apprenticeship to Borough affairs as members of the Council, and both are estimable cltizans, and we suspect that with many bargees* s on polling-day the prevailing sentiment was that of the ancient rhyme— How happy I could be with either Were t’other dear charmer away. But if ’a miss be as good as a mi x,'’ so also a majority of one is as . ff>ctu 1 as a majority of a thousand. and accordingly Mr Sealy is the elect of the people. We congratulate him upon bis new honors and we feel rare that wo may also congratulate the Borough upon having elected to the office of Chief Magistrate a gentleman who will In every sense be an honor to the position. At the same time we cannot help feeling that it is almost time Councillor Harrison, who has now sat at the Council Board for six years, as against Mr JSealy’a three, and has now I four times contested the Mayoralty. ' were given a turr of office, au wa think he should not be discouraged by ' the result of iho poll, but that on the contrary he should take heart of grate and try again next year, when, in all probability, success will at length reward : his efforts. And here, as the prejent is the ninth mayoral elec ion In Ashburton, : a recapitulation of the history of t:e Mat oral chair may not be out of Ashburton was gazetted to the status o f <* municipality on the Ist of August, 1878, and in September of that year Mr Thomas Bullock and Mr Donald Williamson were candidates for the Mayoralty, the first named gentleman being successful, polling 111 votes to Mr Williamson’s 49. in November of the same year Mr Bullook was again returned, this time nnopposed In 1879 Mr Hngo Friedlander and Mr Joseph Ivess contested the chair, the former being returned by 91 votes to 84 In 1880 Mr H. Friedlander was re-elected unopposed, and in 1881, and again It 1882, Mr Donald Williamson had a waik-over. In 1883 Mr Harrison ch>llenged the seat, and polled 86 votes, Mr Williamson being returned for the third time by a majority of 26. In 1884 Mr Harrison was again a candidate, polling 71 votes, but was defeated by Mr Rudolph Friedlander, who scored 136. In 1885 there were three candidates, Mr R. Friedlander being successful with 83 votes, as against 44 polled for Mr Harrison and 34 for Mr D, Thomas, and this year (1886) the figures were Mr T. Sealy 100, Mr Harrison 09. It will thus be seen that on the present occasion Mr Harrison polled both absolutely and relatively a greater num her of votes then on any previous occasion. It will also be noticed that there have been in nine mayoralty elections four unopposed returns, and that .he total number of votes polled at each lof the five contested ms was as fol'rwa, viz.—lß79, 175; 1883, 193; 1884.207; 1885 16 ; 1886 199.