A-POPULAR GAOL OFFICIAL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 476, 7 April 1909, Page 8

A-POPULAR GAOL OFFICIAL.

PRESENTATION. TO CHIEF WARDER ' ; . . , , coyle.: . \... ;. '.'• Hγ. J. Coyle, who has been promoted' to be , gaoler and manager of the 1 Eeformatory Prison at New Plymouth,, was fareweiled'iast evening by the staff'of the Terrace Gaol. The late gaoler, Mr. Armstrong, in , making a presentation of a handsome silver cruet; salad bowl, marble clock, and travelling bags, made complimentary reference ■to Mr. CoyleV period of useful service, and'said that, during the , two : and a half years over Which his bwti'ac'tiuaintance extended, he had found him an adept in dealing with prisoners. The speaker's regret wae that Mr. Coyle-had : irot"tee'n'"pr6moted to Uie position just vacated by himself, but there was still reason to cdngratulaterlumron, his promotion to be gaoler and managerof the Reformatory Prison at New Plymouth, hV was satisfied that no: better i. man could'hatfe 1 ' »<=en found for that position. The tokens of tho staff s esteem were accompanied by universal good 'wishes. Mr. E. Arnold;'N. J., also spoke, regretting that Mr...Cb'yle's promotion necessitated his; transfer.: -After the eleven years he had known Mr. Coyle he had every reason to speak well of him as an officer who was patient and fair. After twenty-four years' eervice and Hie consequent handling-of .thousands of prisoners, it seemed a pity that the" Wellmgton Gaol should lose Mr. Coyle,; and, indeed, had the age limit beeii applied some years earlier, the treatment received by Mr. Coyle would have been better, and he would to-day have been further advanced in the service. No doubt Mr. Coyle arid' his family would., feel it - a wrench leaving Wellington';but who could tell but what the pieces on the chess-board of- the service might 'so move round that, one day, all present would have the pleasure of seeing Mr.,Coyle,back: amongst them. . 5 : Mr. T.- Duncan,- V.J., congratulated Mr.: Coylo on his promotion to the charge of a second-class gaol, and regretted that it wais- not a-first-class one. : Every assistance had been,given the. Visiting Justices by Mr. Coyle, and the prisoners and officers all spoke well of him. The matron, Miss Boulcott, thanked Mr.' Coyle for the assistance he had afforded her in carrying out her share of the duties of the prison. Mr. Weyburne, on behalf bf his officers, wished Mr, Coyle a successful career. Air. Masker apologised for the unavoidable absence.of Messrs. M'Parland and■ Jackman, Visiting Justices. Both, however, ■. sent their best wishes to Mr. and Mrs. Coyle and family. Air. Coyle replying, said he could hardly find' words to thank the staff for the presents ana for the flattering things which bad been said.' Loyal support had always been "accorded him ,and,- owing to that support, 1 his duties had been made lighter, and he thought the prison was now in a very satisfactory state—in fact he made bold to say that the Wellington Gaol was second to none in New Zealand. When he assumed the duties of chief warder, he was told that ho would have an uphill fight, but had found during thfe two and a. hall years which ho had held that position that the fight had not been so hard as anticipated Tho officers had loyally assisted him, and the best of good feeling had always existed. He was naturally sorry to leave Wellington, but would ever look back to tho time spent here as the happiest time of his life, and he felt sure that if the officers assisted his successor as they had helped him, then. prison duty would become lees irksome. The presents he. greatly valued, arid he assured those present that their gifts would ever recall many pleasant memories.