A HORRIBLE AFFAIR.

Kumara Times, Issue 418, 28 January 1878, Page 2

A HORRIBLE AFFAIR.

We (Vanity Fair) are informed that the mosc horrible discoveries have been made in the Jamaica Reformatory for Native Boys, which is situated on a hill about nine miles from Kensington. Some time ago, under the governorship of Sir William Grey, a Baptist clergyman was appointed superintendent of the reformatory, with a salary of £4OO a year, besides a house and other requisites. But those appear not to have been sufficient fur the reverend' gentlem -n, who applied the food allotted for the 400 boys under : his charge to fattening'pins for the market. Mean-, while the little wretches were starved;* and growing desperate—th<y actually fought wiih the pigs for * the food' thrown to them. The miserable creatures were neglected in every 'possible way. A nasty insect, called a tick, well tfhowti to every traveller' in the tropics, burrowed inio their feet, and, »is the doctor had to look ffrer his private pttietits, the wounds, which, if examined; in time, would havebeen trifling, became so serious that amputation of toes or feef was necessary in .no' l>ss thm eighty cases. Starved and nvgl'-cted, the lads became unruly. The offenders were then shaskied n piir.3 ami confined in their cells, wlierer~s»in'i-Were—-for three day-.-, and left without fond or drink. AlLthis at last came to light by mere accident. The boys were entrusted with knives to cut down some, aninea-grass onrside, in chn-ge of one warder only, and they naturally used their liberty to satisfy the cravings,of hunger by plundering-"the neighbour ing girdetiH. The owners did not dare to interfere, but reported the matter to the governor. This led to iu'vestivatioii aud reform, and we understand that Lord Carnarvon has, in a strongly worded despatch, deuounced this horrible affair sis a disgrace to the colony and to the whole Goverment.