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In moving for the appointment of a select committee, to enquire into the present state of the gaols 'ia the colony, and improvements necessary to enforce proper classification and discipline, Mr, Bowen ‘laid great stress, and properly so too, on the evils which arise through the absence of anything like a system of classification in the gaols of the colony* He pointed out that in consequence of the overcrowded state of the principal of our prisons, classification was a thing impossible, and that this difficulty would continue to present itself—only to a much larger extent as population increased aud the commission of .crime became proportionately greater—-until a central penal establishment was provided for the incarceration of long-sentenced criminals.. The subject is one to which Mr. Bowen has devoted a considerable amount of attention, and therefore any remarks he makes upon it must receive earnest and careful consideration. Those who have thought thd matter over in their minds musfc at once agree with the hon. member for Kaiapoi, that the association of fir£fc offenders with veteran criminals while undergoing sentence for perhaps comparatively minor offences against the law of the land, is not the only evil outcome of the present system. It is that intercourse . while in gaol that leads to a greater hard-, ship still. Many v men who have made a faux pas in. life may have -every desire to become better members of society j they may resolve to le&d steadier lives, and never to offend against the law again ; but all these good intentions may be totally destroyed on account of the persecution to which they are subjected after their release from prison by older and more hardened criminals, who claim their acquaintance because they have known them and mixed with them whilst in gaol. If they try to reform their ways, aud obtain respectable employment, the chances are ten to one that just when everything is going well with them, one of those criminal pests of society may present himself on the scene, expose the poor fellow who is trying to earn an honest livelihood, or, under threats of exposure, extort money by way of blackmail for holding his tongue. This, as .Mr. Bowen pointed out, is one of the greatest evils of our present prison system, and the sooner a remedy is applied the better. The committee will no doubt give this branch of the subject their most careful attention, and make «uc;li recommendations as will satisfactorily meet the case. Knowing how much Mr. Bowen has the whole subject of prison discipline at heart, it xvill be no fault of his if all the objects aimed at by that gentleman are not accomplished with the least possible delay.

Great satisfaction*was expressed in town yesterday on the receipt of intelligence that the Hawea had arrived safely dt Auckland. For the past two or three days considerable anxiety had been felt about the vessel, aa «he had not been heard of since Sunday last, on which day she left Gisborne for Auckland, intending to call at Tauranga. It was, therefore, with a feeling of groat relief that a telegram was received about 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon stating that she was once more safe in port at Auckland, A brief report from Captain Kennedy appears in another portion of our columns, from which it appears. that early on the morning of the 29,th, during the heavy gale whicli was then raging on the coast, the rudder-head was carried away, and the captain then made for Hicks Bay under canvas. Here he remained until 8 p.m. on Thursday, when the wind having changed he left for Auckland, where he arrived safely yesterday afternoon. Beyond the loss of the rudder-head the vessel sustained no damage. The passengers were so well satisfied with the manner in which the captain handled his vessel that they presented him with an address and purse of sovereigns. As to the steamer Pretty Jane, which left Gisborne.on Saturday for Auckland, and had not been heard of afterwards uj> to yesterday, it was generally supposed that she had sought shelter in Hicks Bay, and such proved to be the case, as will be seen by reference to our telegraphic news. The matter having been brought yesterday under the notice of the Governor, hia Excellency communicated with the captain of H.M.S. Nymphe, who expressed his readiness to go at once in search of the missing vessel. Just as the Nymphe was making ready for sea a telegram was received announcing the safety of the Hawea, news of the Pretty Jane’s safety having arrived a short time previously.

The Thames, it appears, has set the example of sending a congratulatory telegram to Lord Beaconsfield on his great diplpmatic success at tho Berlin Congress, A subscription limited to one shilling each was got up to meet the expense of transmitting the message, which was despatched yesterday to London, signed by •Mr. Warden Fraser on behalf of the residents at the Thames. The example will probably be followed in other portions of the colony, it being very generally felt that mainly to Lord Beaoonsfield’a action are the British public indebted for having escapt d from tho great and imminent danger-of'being dragged into a European war. t

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZTIM18780803.2.10

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5414, 3 August 1878, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
875

Untitled New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5414, 3 August 1878, Page 2

Untitled New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5414, 3 August 1878, Page 2

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