“GINX'S BABY" AT PATEA.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2217, 4 April 1881, Page 3

“GINX'S BABY" AT PATEA.

A curious soene, we learn from the local paper, occurred at Patea the other day. The licensing Magistrates had just finished business, when a professional nurse brought before them a child which, she said, she had kept fourteen months without receiving any remuneration from the mother. She, therefore, brought the child for the Bench to take care of. After a short dialogue with the magistrates, ehe pushed the child forward, placed a bun in a paper on the table for it to go on with, and left the Court with a rush. The three magistrates looked at each other, smiled, exohanged confidences, and were leaving the Bench, when the chairman said, " Open the door and let the child go after her—quick!" The poor deserted brat was pushed out, and the door closed. That seemed to be the last of it; but presently the door opened and the nurse again pushed the child into the Court, closed the door with a bang, and was gone. The police sergeant and the bailiff were then in possession of the Court, and therefore of the baby. Neither officer considered that his official duty extended to babies ; and even the clerk had not a fatherly smile for it. A representative of the Press was hovering near, but as he could not find room for a live baby in his next issue, owing to press of news, he left it to the tender meroy of the Court. What became of the baby P Sho was a nice little girl, about three years old, well dresßed, and interesting. She will help some day to balance the population, there being a scaroity of girls ; but in the meanwhile she had only that bun in the paper to go on with. The R.M. was again appealed to privately as to which officer of the Oourt should take charge of the deserted baby and be a father to it. Ho had to choose between the bailiff, who might "take possession," or the sergeant, who might "apprehend " the child. The 8.M., on " time to consider," gave judgment that the bailiff, being then lawfully seized of the child, might take it to the Police Station and deliver it to the custody of the sergeant. But at the Police Station a new difficulty arose. The sergeant refused to take in the infant prisoner, there being no proper " information " against the aforesaid. Sadly but kindly the bailiff retraced his steps to the Oourt, but the B.M. had " cleared." What was to be done ? The bailiff decided to take his infant chattel home to dinner. His trouble was lightened on the way by Mrs Williams benevolently taking charge of the child till such time as a home can be provided for it at the expense of the State. How this is to be done is doubtful. No local publio body has funds for the purpose. If the baby had sense enough to take the measles, it could be sent to the County Hospital, just before the place closes for the want of State aid. This pauper baby will turn up again, and the wise economists of the County Council will have to discuss it as a State problem.