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CONVICT DEMANDS FOR TRANSPORTATION TO AUSTRALIA.— MUTINY. [From the Illustrated London News.]

It would appear as though the news of the gold discoveries in Australia had penetrated to the wretched inmates of the hulks who have been sentenced to the penalty of transportation, and that they regard themselves as unfairly dealt with because they are nbt sent out at the public expense to the "land of promise," where^ furnished with the convict's passport — a " ticket of leave," they may apply themselves to the pleasant task of literally "reaping a golden harvest," as some compensation for the sufferings tbey have hitherto endured at the hands of society, by whom they have evidently, in their own estimation, been misunderstood. Indeed, these illtreated gentry feel so indignant on this subject, that they liave had recourse to violence, in order to manifest their sense of the grievance, and asserting what a Parisian Professor of Barricades would call " the right of insurrection," they 'have risen en masse on board the Warrior at Woolwich, and, armed with knives and other weapons, have mustered together in one part of the ship in a body numbering upwards of 100, and demanded ts be immediately conveyed to the "diggings," refusing at the same time to perform their ordinary labour tacks, and withstanding for a considerable peviod the troops who were placed as an extra strong guard to overawe them. They have, however, been reduced to order, and measures have been taken to prevent any-recurrence of the mutiny. The whole affair speaks trumpet-tongued as to the light in which the criminal classes regard transportation to Australia, and the Government can have no pretence to pass enrheeded so evident a testimony as this and other recent occurrences exhibit, that their present system of transportation to the Australian colonies, by holding out reward instead of punishment, serves but to foster crime at home, and utterly Corrupt beyond redemption the stream of social life in. those most important dependencies of the empire. Deportation to- the antipodes is, in fact, qonsidered a magnificent boon by the criminal, who is quite as well aware as the honest man is, that, joined to a fine climate, New South Whiles now presents the additional attraction of speedy wealth in its most concentrated form to the man with strength of arm to dig, or daring enough to rob the diggers. The first indication of insubordination, was given on Saturday afternoon last by the convicts who had been at.work during the day in the dockyard, at Woolwich, on their return to the Warrior, convict ship, where they sleep during the night. ' They rushed in gangs into one of the compartments set apart for a single gang, and refused to separate and go to their proper places until their grievances were redressed, the 4 chief of which they declared td* be their retention in this country, instead of being sent out to Australia. The whole of the convict guards were kept on board the ship during the night, in case of any outbreak, as threats were used ; and on Captain Montagu Stopford, acting superintendent of the dockyard, being made acquainted with the mutiny, he ordered the crew of the Fisgard, flag-ship, to remain under arms during the whole night. The dockyard police of the R division were also- under arms, in case any violence should have been attempted. On Monday, Captain Whitty and several of the authorities from London visited the Warrior, and examined several of the ringleaders, but the result of what took place has not been made known. In order, however, to prevent being taken by surprise, the whole of the convict-guard who did duty during the day in the dockyard were kept under arms all night. On Tuesday morning a detachment of the Royal Artillery arrived to duly as a convict guard. In the course of that day, between twelve and one o'clock, when the convicts returned from their work in the dockyard to take their dinner on hoard the Warrior, convict ship, their violence of conduct was excessive. They no sooner entered the ship than they rushed down and took possession of two of the decks, defying* the guards or any of the military to come near them, at the same time "singing, cheering, and swearing; and some who bad got hold of pipes and tobacco commenced smoking. The guards were threatened in such a manner, that they represented to Mr. Masterman that "it would be dangerous to go out with the 'convicts in tht afternoon if examples were not made of some ol thenj. Captain the Hon. Montagu .Stopford, acting superintendent, was immediately communicated with, and the aid of the guards of the Royal Artillery and Royal' Marines having beer called on board, the guards in charge of the convicts, with drawn cutlasses, went below and brought up and heavily ironed thirty-eight ol the most outrageous, and disarmed them of theii knives, forks, and sharpened files, of which thej had by some means become possessed. Twe"nty of the convicts were, in the course of the afternoon, conveyed to London in the poljc'e-vans senl down to Woolwich for the purpose, and safety secured in the Milbank Penitentiary. The othei eighteen were also heavily ironed, and taken or board the Wye,* in the river.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZSCSG18520623.2.9

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 719, 23 June 1852, Page 4

Word count
Tapeke kupu
877

CONVICT DEMANDS FOR TRANSPORTATION TO AUSTRALIA.—MUTINY. [From the Illustrated London News.] New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 719, 23 June 1852, Page 4

CONVICT DEMANDS FOR TRANSPORTATION TO AUSTRALIA.—MUTINY. [From the Illustrated London News.] New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 719, 23 June 1852, Page 4

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