VICTORIA. THE ITALIANS IN THE COLONIES. THE TRAFFIC IN CHILDREN. TWO LITTLE SLAVE GIRLS. Melbourne, February 4.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 242, 18 February 1888, Page 4 (Supplement)

VICTORIA. THE ITALIANS IN THE COLONIES. THE TRAFFIC IN CHILDREN. TWO LITTLE SLAVE GIRLS. Melbourne, February 4.

In the District Court, two Italian itinerant musicians, Muziel Galiti and Dominico Antonio Cortesi, wore charged with neglecting the education of their children. Two small girls appeared in Court. They said they were daughters of Cortcfci, and played tiio violin and danced in the streets. They had been to school, but did not know the name of it. Corte&i was asked for his passport. Ho said he could produce it in three days, and could prove that the girls were his daughters. The Bench were incredulous, butgavo both prisoners 14 days to produce proofs. If these were not forthcoming the accused would bo severely dealt with. The Italian consul, who was in court, addressed the bench, and said that in that event he would ask for the children to be handed over, and lie would send them back to Italy. Ho said his Government weio very desirous to stop this traffic in children and begged the magistrates to deal severely with all such offenders.