THE CAROLINE'S PASSENGERS.

Evening Star, Issue 3554, 14 July 1874, Page 3

THE CAROLINE'S PASSENGERS.

The report of the ‘ Daily Times ’ respecting the passengers landed yesterday by the Caroline has been very justly complained of to ns as a gross breach of confidence, as well as a perversion of fact, on the part of the reporter of that journal. Although it is perfectly true that much of what is stated to hare been said by the captain was expressed by him in reference to particular passengers, he by no means wished any words of his to convey the impressions imputed to him ; especially as the exceptions made.by the ‘Times’ are so Hepdpjly drawn as to justify classing all the immigrants undergone general condemnation. The eon§equence is that impediments are placed iu the way of very respectable persons, who have arrived by that vessel, obtaining employment, with the addition of affixing a brand t® them that long residence ia the Colony will hardly efface. We by no means wish to extenuate the AgentGeneral nor his subordinates when they act without judgment, and send out to us persons whose characters will not bear inquiry ; but we feel much greater indignation at that wanton cruelty that treats poverty as a crime, and the inmate of a workhouse at ' ome as disreputable. When persons emigrate, it is usually because the doors that lead to success closed upon them; and if every one who has been kept, from crime through entering a workhouse at Heme, is to be debarred from seeking a field for industry in another laud, we fear New Zedand is not likely to have many British or Irish laborers. 1 1 should not be forgotten that those who prefer workhouse restraint and emigration to a loose life at H«me, afford evidence that at any rate poverty has not led them into vice ; and it is for us to examine their histories, testimonials, and characters before we allow ourselves to be influenced by the slipshod report? of a person unable to distinguish petfregn general observations in familiar conversation, and the specific statements that would have been given had publication been contemplated',