A SINGULAR CASE.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1679, 6 July 1875, Page 2

A SINGULAR CASE.

(To the Editor of the Evening Stae.) Sir,- I beg respectfully to draw your attention to what can be called by no other name than an act of downright cruelty and irjjaatice. Two years ago this month, I was persuaded to let my son go to a Mr. Wilson, who keeps a flaxmill at Raglan, to work for him, the lad being at that time ten years old. He stayed with Wilson eighteen months, but the treatment he received at his master's hands caused him to run away. He was brought down from Raglan by a party who promised him that he was going to take him to hia mother. Instead of that, on his arrival in Auckland the man, whoever he is, handed him over to the police as a destitute child, stating his name to be John Henry Wood, whereas the boy's name is John White. Now, sir, my husband is, and has been for a considerable period, in the employ of Mr. Alfred Buckland, and not only well able, but willing to support and school the boy. The lad has to all intents and purposes been stolen from us and placed on board the training ship without his own consent and our knowledge. The lad feels the injustice of the act. and has sense to know he has been vilely kidnapped; and, as a natural consequence, he has run away, and at the present moment is in the lock-up. I have lived for years in Auckland, and no one can say that there is the least stain on my character ; and to be robbed of my son in this way, in my humble opinion, is without precedent and altogether unjustfiable.—l am, sir, yours respectfully, M. White.—[lf the facts are as stated by Mrs. White, the lad should be restored to his parents. A boy whose parents are able and willing to keep him, can hardly be described as a destitute child.—Ed. E.S.]