AN AUCKLAND DEN OF INFAMY.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 125, 21 June 1876, Page 3

AN AUCKLAND DEN OF INFAMY.

I'hio “ Auckland 'Evening Star” recently exposed tlio doings of a den of infamy, iu Hobson-street, in that city. One of the inmates, “ Minnie Willialns,” writes to the editor of that journal, and records a talc which does not say much for the inorals of a portion of the Auckland community. This is what she says : “I am left without‘home or shelter she, (Mrs Uouzcns, the keeper of the house) having part of my effects in her possession, to Starve or continue to do far worse j altd why ? because I was not able to pay Sufficient money to pay her, Mrs Couzens, £4 a Week for her house and furniture, to buy Whatever she compelled me to, Oiit of the public by the •Wages Of my owil degradation, and by Selliiig Ahcklahd bottled beer at 5s per bottle, charged to me by Mrs Couzens, 206 per dozeli, and cbaxllpagllc at 20s per bottle, charge 10s; and who were thofce I had to sell tb 1 Many, only ybtuig men, and lads earning small pay in batiks and offices, who, when they got ■fehdrt of money by paying these prices, had to make tip Avllat they owed in slich a manlier that they ran the risk of going to Mount Edeii, altd yet the Magistrates all gbbd Christians, living in a Christian land, in the bosom of happy families whom they love, many having daughters. I hope God irl his goodness will always keep any of their daughters from being in the poWorof a Mrs Couzens and that their sons earning 80s a week in responsible positions, may not be tempted to pay Os a bottle for beer in Hobson-street. Is it any Wonder that Mrs Couzens coldd say in her evidence that she had seventeen houses ? Iu many of those houses, Mr Editor, is the grim skeleton of a soul goilo, or going to perdition, being led by the hand of Mrs Couzens, whom the law upholds.