The Telephone. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND SATURDAY MORNINGS. GISBORNE, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1883. GAOL MANAGEMENT.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 12, 22 November 1883, Page 2

The Telephone. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND SATURDAY MORNINGS. GISBORNE, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1883. GAOL MANAGEMENT.

The report of the Royal Commission on the management of the Dunedin Gaol brings to light acts of officials which cannot but be deemed a disgrace to any civilised community, and it appears to us that the said Commission have not dealt with the onerous work entrusted to them in a strictly impartial manner. In their report the Commissioners state that “in forming au estimate of the value of the testimony of habitual criminals we have been guided to some extent by the demeanor of the individual witness, but mainly by the amount of corroboration which their evidence received from more trustworthy sources That

several prisoners were continuously treated, with special indulgence by the gaoler, with the general knowledge and sanction of the Visiting Justices. That charges of idleness and other offences brought against prisoners were habitually held over for weeks, and sometimes months, before being finally dealt with, although the Justices visited the gaol at least once a week, and generally more frequently. In one case eighteen charges had been made against a prisoner extending over a period of six weeks before any one of them was finally dealt with. That minor offences —that of idleness especially —were frequently punished by the Visiting Justices by . repeated sentences of additional imprisonment, for terms in many cases amounting in the aggregate to far more than the original sentence of the prisoner ; and that as in many instances the punishment of additional imprisonment was awarded for a first offence, or at all events as a first punishment, the Visiting Justices, in the opinion of the Commissioners, acted without authority of law as well as with undue severity. That sufficient care was not taken to establish charges of malingering, one prisoner having died whilst under punishment for that offence in the shape of reduced diet and additional imprisonment; and another having been under punishment for malingering by reduction of diet and additional imprisonment, concurrently with regular treatment by the medical officer, shown by repeated entries in the prescription-book. In the latter case, moreover, on the man’s eventual discharge, the medical officer procured

his admission into the Dunedin Hospital. That, on the occasion of the inquest upon the body of the prisoner first referred to in the last paragraph, the Gaoler did not tender the evidence of either the Warders or Prisonerwarders who were in attendance on the prisoner at the time of his death, and that the Coroner and Jury were in consequence not iu possession of the evidence best cn-l'-'i I .-if ed to guide lheir decision upon tho ease. That some o| iho Wnrdoi'a won-; urged by ibe Cooler to make t» r" frequent oLargofii of idleness f, r . llu.r eITi-ne,■■■; against the prisoners than those officers eonsideced necessary. That a system of espiomuie was ei'-mii-rigcd by (i. f . flpi-’i r am •vj-l ’be Wm-dom, mu l pi-l :eiio)-’, beth at>regarded ■lieinsi li --rg m ■ barge tlmv wer.? rh •' J • t:m’ ~ ,m ( i,„ in...,.,. , ■" •: .i;.'-;, . <A i ...... >1 ... ,| . ~<< ... i e-;i i- temr'm ry ■■' ■■ ■,. -r ' ■(!' :■■■■ :i J ■■■"■, -. i... in , . : . ■ i 1. 1 . ; ...... , ioregeing are the leading features of j

the condemnatory “ conclusions ” arrived at, and now we come to the “ further conclusions for his Excellency’s attention.” The report says:— “ That many of the irregularities lately existing in Dunedin Prison were the continuation of arrangements and practices which prevailed whilst the gaol was under provincial management, and which had apparently the sanction of the provincial authorities. That the Visiting Justices, especially Captain Fraser, Mr. Logan, and Mr Brown, have been unremitting in their attendance at the prison and in their attention to its affairs. That the Gaoler, Mr. Caldwell, has throughout given most zealous attention to his duties. That, although the Gaoler has been rough with prisoners on many occasions, the charges of serious personal violence appear to be without foundation, and it was proved to our satisfaction that he treated sick prisoners with care and attention, whenever he was satisfied they were really ill, and not malingering. We have already stated that the Visiting Justices, Captain Fraser, Mr. Logan, and Mr. Brown, have been unremitting in their attention to their duties At the same time we are reluctantly compelled to state that, in our opinion, those Visiting Justices are responsible, not only for the manner in which they have dealt with prison offences, but also, in a great measure, for breaches of regulations and irregularities which we have pointed out; and, were it not for the absence of Captain Fraser, who has had no opportunity of explaining his action, and that we believe the adoption of the suggestions we append to this report would render a repetition of such abuses impossible, we should have felt constrained to recommend your Excellency to remove those gentlemen from their position in connection with the prison.” It must appear to every unprejudiced person capable of comprehending the subject that the report not only gives evidence of a most barbarous system of gaol management having existed, but points to the fact that the Commission, in its wisdom, has dealt very leniently with the principals in cases of a deplorable character. The Gaoler is evidently a man totally unfitted for the position he held for a long time, while the Visiting Justices have displayed no aptitude for carrying out the duties unfortunately entrusted to them. At least one prisoner’s death was apparently caused by the brutal treatment in force in the Dunedin gaol, the Visiting Justices have acted the parts of petty tyrants, and yet it is recommended by the Commissioner that the Gaoler be only required to retire on a pension, while the patrons of diabolical proceedings are patted on the back for having been ‘‘ unremitting in their attention to their duties.” We would ask the Commission, if the acts of the Visiting Justices in frequently punishing prisoners for idleness, “ by repeated sentences of additional imprisonment, for terms in many cases amounting in the aggregate to far more than the original sentence” is not deserving of some punishment ? and also, if they,, in conjunction with other men of a similar noble disposition, should not be held responsible, in some measure, for the death of the poor sinner whose days were shortened, apparently, “ whilst under punishment?” Three Warders who took part in the sensational drama were, of course—being humble actors —“removed from the service;” then, why should not the leading characters be called to account

for their share of the brutal proceedings ? xlssuredly, the Visiting Justices referred to cannot be deemed a credit to the Bench, and we should think that nothing less than their relegation to obscurity would suffice to atone for Iho grievous wrongs they have commilled. The inl'amons proceedings we draw atlonfioi). to cnll lor a rd riot ami nnparlial eonsid.ernl!!*n bv the (ioverniunnt; and it is Io be hoped tha f , if ijo m.'iion be taken in lhe matter before lhe ucal - session, infbientini members of the l.l.oiise will do utmost to cause llm scales - f imdiec Io be held in equal poise, and administer their desorts to |l’os<Tfifinr:'!- im!i\'duals who. have a IJ--4 f 1.., . ...yAc ~l’ f!.,> f '-.1/IMV

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The last boat for the s.b. Ringarooma will leave the wharf at 4 p.m. Friday, instead of five o’clock as advertised,

His Honor Judge Brookfield gives a bat for the highest scorer in the match to-day, and Mr Booth a ball for the most wickets.

Mrs. Mary Roweth, aged 76, died somewhat suddenly at her residence, Auckland. She is the mother of Mrs Solomon, an old Gisborne resident. In the Trust Commissioner’s Court, on Monday last, His Worship adjourned the case, Akuhuatika No. 1 C, from Tiopira te Whaiao to J. Davis Ormond, till Tuesday, when he decided to affix his signature. The committee of the Hospital sports have decided to erect a stand on the grounds for the convenience of ladies who attend the fete. This is a highly commendable action on the part of the sports committee. From PMic Opinion (London) we learn that there are at present upwards of 20,000 spurious sovereigns in circulation, and that the base coins are so adroitly fashioned that even an expert finds some difficulty in distinguishing them from the real article. By a return showing the difference between the net revenue on each line of railway in New Zealand for the year ending 31dt March, 1883, and interest on cost of construction of same calculated at 5 per cent we find that there has been a net loss during the year 1883 of £163,424 Is 7d.

The amount contributed to the revenue for the financial year ending March 31, 1883, for the Provii.-ci.al District of Hawke’s Bay is as follows :—Customs revenue, £44,600 19s lOd; stamp revenue, £34,216 7b 4d; land and property tax, £8,932; beer duty, £2,2016 16s Od; total, £89,850 3s 9d. Messrs Graham, Pitt and Bennett have received instructions to sell by auction on Saturday the 24th inst., at 2 p.m., the whole of the privileges of the forthcoming Hospital Fete, comprising gates, refreshment booths, fruit stalls, right of sports, and right of taking care of horses. Captain Jackson Barry again addressed an audience in McFarlane’s Hall, last night. The whale adventure, Californian experience, Tichborne interviews, King Country prospecting, China war, and Colonial experiences were again gone through, and elicited frequent ironical applause.

The territorial revenue derived from the Hawke’s Bay Provincial District, for the year ending March 31, 1883, is as follows :— Land sales (ordinary), £6,558 15s Id; land sales on deferred payments, £1,009 13s; depasturing licenses, rents, etc., £4BO Ils lOd; miscellaneous, £24 14s, Total, £8.077 13s lid. On account of the hurried manner in which the cricket match—Licensed Interpreters v. Licensed Victuallers — has been arranged, the country hotel-keepers have inadvertently been omitted. While expressing regret at this oversight, the Committee request their co-operation, and beg all those who can attend to be on the ground on Thursday, at 11 a.m. A rather serious accident happened to Mr Weave., borer of the S. P. Petroleum Company, yesterday. He was riding out to the company’s works in company with Messrs Mill and Wylie, when he met Dr, Leggatt who advised him to get some medicine to take with him. Acting upon this advice he turned back, and his horse becoming unmanageable, bolted and threw his rider against a post opposite Mr Sigley’a shop, breaking his leg just below the knee, He was brought in and attended to by Dr. Leggatt, at the Gisborne Hotel, and is progressing very favorably. It appear that the force of the concussion broke the post off short. Two other minor accidents are reported, the results, we believe, of the negotiations now in progress for the cricket ma-ch.

The following is the cases set down for the Supreme Court to be hoklen in Gisborne on December 10th (Criminal), Rees v. Kerr, libel; Regina v. Nokowharc, assault with intent; Regina V. Parekowhai, larceny ; Regina v. McEwen, beastiality. (Civil), Jennings v. berry j Johnstone v. Priestly; Priestly v. Jo-instonc; Mullooly v, Jury; Priestly v. Piesse; Kahutia v. Doull; Arona and others v. Hamiora and others ; Ruke and others v. N. Z. N. Land Settlement Company (jury) ; Nihoniho v. Ward ; Gibbons v. Graham; Johnson and others v. Wi Pure and others, (jury) ; Breinghan v. Graham and Kinross; Mullooly v. Finlay; Tucker v. Coleman and Clarke, (jury) ; Finn v. Haronga ; Riki and others v. Kees and Wi Pere; Tucker nnd others Cheltenham ; Cooper and Stubbs v. Clarke ; and Maude v. Rees.

We confidently prognosticate that the game of cricket which is to be played to-day between the Licensed Interpreters of the district and tho representatives of the Wine, Spirit aud Beer Trade will prove /Aegainc of the season. We have no hesitation in nay i.ng that fhoHC gentlemen who an- alv.uyn fmintl “ !■? Uh' Imoi ' in «>rg:nti<nig th*, nn.-.1. i’i • .pm-h io; t’»-v c •'•«! i'" l •• < !•»> oq.-noli tl elm-Vml V.I he -l-fl -.m' rf t - hl.-.HghJ «• :>!’■! { • • I*. -- l-'i'-’t ’ v.-hb-h inevit'iblj -ir th-' wake-;f ■.*;.. h ••eiie.’OPQ ns t!m above and u : lhi, v ( I.L-1- . Am? nom.vc of snipe nature"- v. :.:’d I n entirely !r Idmj. They ; IIC refi '-a'dng I’.owern on the oli'i :-a i- e t'>'b>o.me an'! amip a hat wrarv road of life, and wel-otno intervals of rclaxatm i} -I-••!-. foi a slmi t tim.'-, th- cares and •;n> -e, ar.eoe of b’.Hiness arc lai 1 ; r. !•- for t! - more t.1.-r- ’.f.-t., ,'.d r are n' mm H*‘v ( i -.:i ir t’.:’-. c. L ti. • < .)■ .y..t • : cj r >. :ev/./.u'k-.. -hi - '\ - '• ;

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would not now entertain it. To Mr, E, Be.esford granting him the right of erecting a pump. To the Chairman of the Gisborne Harbor Board, informing him that they would have to pay a yearly rental for the use of the offices, Incoming Correspondence.—From J. H. Aislabie, asking for improvements to be Trade at the foot of Disraeli street, as there was always a quantity of water left there after rainfall.

The Engineer said that to make the road pas .b e fascines would have to be put down, the cost of so doing he estimated at about £3 or £4.

Cr. Tutchen moved that £3 be expended for the repairing of the road, and that a letter be written to Mr. Aislabie asking him to allow the manuka in his paddock close by to be made use of for doing the work. Cr, Lewis seconded.

Cr. Townley moved, as an amendment, that the Engineer be instructed to inspect this part of the road, and report at next meeting whether the repairing of the road was urgently required or not. He considered that if this work was not urgent it should not be done, as they were not in a position at present to waste money, and already that road had a great deal of money expended on it of late.

Cr. Tutchen agreed with Cr. Townley, but the work was, in his opinion, most urgent, and should be gone on with. Cr. Joyce seconded Cr. Townley’s amendment, which was carried by the Chairman's casting vote in favor of it. From J. B. Dawson, calling the Council’s attention to the fact that by stopping the watercourse in the formation of Bright street, a certain portion of water was left standing, and the stench from which was now becoming almost intolerable. He proposed that the water should be backed up to Grey street, so that it could then be made use of by the Fire Brigade, aud for bathing, &c.

Cr. Lewis thought that the proposition was out of the question, as it would not be very pleasant to bathe in stinking water. He would move that the Engineer be authorised to inspect this nuisance and report on it at next meeting. This had been done.

From the Clerk of the Wairoa County Council, asking them to use their best endeavors in getting the petition, re formation of mail service between Wairoa and Gisborne, generally done. This had been done.

From the Superintendent of the Fire Brigade, requesting that the Brigade be supplied with belts and tomahawks as soon as possible. Cr. Tutchen moved, and Cr. Joyce seconded, that the matter be left in the hands of the Superintendent himself.—Carried. Engineer’s Report, November 20th, 1883. To His Worship the Mayor of Gisborne. Sir,—-I have little to report to the present meeting. Aberdeen Road Contract.—The contractor is getting on with the shingling of the roadway. The work on this contract has not lately been carried on in a satisfactory manner, and I don’t recommend the making of any further progress at present. Disraeli Street Contract.—The contractor is making very slow progress with this work, and will be considerably behind time in completion. Day Labor.—The total amount expended in day labor has been £2 12s 6d, principally incurred in improving Abe deen Road, near Mr Graham’s, and the crossing of Disraeli | Street and Childers Road.

I propose to employ two men for the next week or two, cleaning water-tables and doing other necessary jobs throughout the Borough. Payment.—l recommend a progress payment to Doleman, the Disraeli Street contractor, of £2O.

I am, &c., R. J. Reynolds, Borough Engineer. On the motion of Cr. Tutchen, seconded by Cr. Joyce, the report was adopted. Payments.—The following accounts were passed for payment:—J. W. Wade, £29 9s. Id. ; Kennedy and Bennett, £3 2s. ; 8. Doleman, £37 18s., also another account; Bxllantyne and Co., £1 2s. 9d. ; Jas. Browne, £1 18s. 4d.

Extraordinary Business.—ln reply to the Clerk, Cr. Smith said he was not in a position then to go into the question of public baths, as he had stated at last meeting he would.—Cr. Joyce said that A. Swan had shown him a plan of a moveable bath which he (Swan) was about to bring before the notice of the Council. From what he had seen of it, he thought it was a grand idea and would answer admirably.—The Clerk said, with regard to Wi Pere and the Waihiriri block, no reply had as yet been received to the letter sent by him. Wi Pore had told him he would reply.— With reference to tho artesian well, Cr Smith said he bad written to the gentleman hr had promisc'l ho would do at last meeting, and who bid " plird 11l ij would R.-tid mH fin* nprpp q try i»ifro lontioh nu wo>i n« ill* Ei inno tnall ('t I .•’«!« Raid Im ivi d'» d draw 1|... f I'l il aHf.Olrion thn U 'rtnr <-h‘”U«n| i«i lbii.lo: l b-1 *l*»y v b?n been g, : 1-*4< .-(-old l-nvn b-C), float*. I from to Blight Mlrrd <'crlm'nlv f|;H bid b**rji f t'nd'd I » b -foro bv sard bring put ( it, bill fbnt ctirb otlr v;:’R of no vso, > it .vn? now all wished nwiy. The Coimcil arc tbij seen to at once. '1 bn Eogi u' r was ordered to see to it Cr. - lilp. said that the piping in tho cidvi-H ;v.t Roebuck ro-d drain was again -l »ppcd up ••ir.-! the water was lying in thn Cr. Smith wished to know if it was ■ i ‘be C to I ur: that I. ’■ fii'.r.J i:-. Lie thought tho .'•ncr d '-.u bd’er. Lhv fthyiibl I-j c-d to irapect tiu pp?;g, u’.-i i r : b: have it cleaned out at ' .. H plh.v-’rr < q fb-.< vi-a.’nn I K r.’;-, which vr.: u’.r.-.s'. mpus- I n.ut .. ’ ..1, j ■ ■■■. . ..y .. Kyinee: ; ■ ■; :-y ’■’■■yi _ I Li:.. tot tho buri;-J . r.y off the yy ; '-'l vLB-p/ c: utioi> : Ti<r prsoiri i’;'. to'

Cr, Lewis moved, and Cr. Tutohen ded, that boards with Maori and Engllslr notices be posted at each end of the bridge. —Carried. The Council granted application from Mr. Gregson, to remove his house to Williams-street. The Clerk stated that with re« gard to Cr. Joyce’s notice of motion, j that no solicitor be retained for the ensuing fl year, the solicitor had been paid up to March 28th, 1884. M Cr. Joyce thought that this matter should have been fairly considered before he was paid. It should be discon* fl tinned at once. If they required a solicitor fl at any time, then they could employ one* 1 Cr. Lewis agreed with Cr. Joyce, but they 1 had still a long time to go. He did not aee that it would be doing any good by passing I such a motion at present. When the year was up with the present solicitor then motion could be brought on.—Cr. Joyce said he was willing to withdraw the motion till the year was up for the present solicitor, and would then bring it on again. The rough minutes of the meeting were next read, and the Council rose at 9 o'clock.