ROMANCE OF TRANSPORTATION.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 1, Issue 16, 6 May 1867, Page 103

ROMANCE OF TRANSPORTATION.

The Liverpool- Courier is answerable for the following :-—'* Many stories are told of'the strange eventful histories’ oftrane* ported convicts; the following, amongst the number, may not, perhaps, be without in tereßt .as-a; tale, at least, of a transported hoy, and/what became of' him. Mr. D. Q* r ?phjc,®f 68, . Gordon-streef,- Everton, is our authority, and-lie. says he Will satisfy any seriousinquirer on the subject." Some years ago Mr Carroll was a police-officer of this town, and one night, while on duty at Yauxhall-road, he detected two youths breaking.iiito a shop at the corner of Cock-spur-street. One was a boy named William Atkinson, whose age was about fifteen at. the time, and this lad, on examination, proved to have been the son of parents (then dead) of respectable character, but humble in social position. They had died when the boy was very young, and left him to the care of 'an aunt, who was a drunken woman, and consequently the poor boy was neglected, fell into bad company, and step by step descended into the depths of juvenile crime, until arrested aabove stated. Mr Carroll, who is a man of feeling and discrimination, on examining the boy, was told a tale that not only excited. his curiosity but enlisted his sympathies, and finding the lad to be naturally shrewd and intelligent, he felt an interest about the poor forlorn outcast. The boy was sent for trial before the late Recorder of Liverpool (Mr Henderson), and from the story told tnat kind heareted gentleman by the boy, he likewise took an interest in the fate of the unfortunate youth. His Honor directed Mr Carroll to make inquiry and report to him about the prisoner who, it may be remarked, had pleaded guilty to the charge of burglary, and now only awaited sentence for the offence. Mr Carroll reported that he had found everything the boy told him to be literally correct, and added that he believed the lad capable of doing something better, if in proper hands. When called up for sentence before the Recorder the prisoner made a feeling appeal to the Court, begging to bsent out of the country, is he could do no good here, in consequence of bad company, and the loss of his character. Port of Australia at that time was a peal settlement, and at the urge it solicitation of the boy, the Recorder sentenced him to seven years’ transportation, at the same time transmitting to the colony with him (not then an unusual circumstance) a brief his tory of his career. This arrived safely in Australia, where the convicted boy mu-t be left for some time. His deportation was-effected just when the gold discovery was made in Australia, and'the lad having served .his seven years’ transportation, received _ a good character and discharge from the individual whom he had so served, and with a very small sum of money he set off for the ‘ diggings.’ What his success ther.- was will be found below. Mr Carroll having left the police force, and set up in trade for himself, in which he has fortunately been successful, was one day lately walking on the great landing-stage, when a tall, well-dressed, and gentlemanlylooking young man accosted him by his name, aud asked if he knew him. Mr Carroll replied in the negative, when the stranger begged earnestly that he would accompany him to a neighbouring hotel, as he had something of considerable importance to communicate to him. They went to the hotel, and then the stranger aaked Mr Carroll if he could at all remember or recognise him. This was repeateo several times with the same answer, ‘ No,’ and at lust the stranger asked, in a very pointed manner, ‘ Do you remember ever taking up two boys for a burglary in a barber's shop at the corner of Oockspurstreet and Yauxliall road? ” Mr Carroll was naturally enough startled, but his newly-found and gentlemanly friend begged that he would not be frightened, as hie was one of the boys, and his name was William Atkinson, as has beeu already sated, aud he added that Mr Carroll was mote than a father to him. Here he drew from hi* pocket a well-filled purse, containing several hundred sovereigns, saving, "This is not half what I am worth ; I made it all honestly, but I may thank you for it.” He then told his trieud that, having got into a place where there were no bad companions, and having obtained a posit.ou that afforded him food and raiment, he acted honestly, and served his seven years faithfully, and, on being disc!.urged, went to the gol 1 fields, where he succeeded in making some £2,500, and he had just returned to England to see what it was like; Some days alter this interview he called on Mr Carroll, and told him he could do no good here, even with hie money ; for already he had been beset t>y former companions in crime, and in a few days after this Mr Carroll saw him away on board an Australian emigrant ship, a first-class passenger.”