CORRESPONDENCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4195, 18 August 1892, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

An Expression of Opinion. [to the Editor of the Wairabapa Daily Times.]

Sir, —East Mauriceville has awakened and found itself famous; but its fame unfortunately has an odour the reverse of sweet, It is not often that a oaso of such revolting barbarity ocoursasthe one heardat. the: Magistrate's Court in Masterton on Monday last, and I suppose in the face of all the evidence tendered by the private individuals referred to in your report of the case, it would be rank blasphemy to say that the seutence meted out to the prisoners was harsh or out of proportion to the magnitude of the offence, Tho'fact remains, however, I that the respectable portion of the ! community has very little sympathy i either with the sentence or with the way in which it was brought about, If the Bench in the exercise of its functions deems it advisable for the sake of example to send .the parents of a large young family, from a young baby upwards, to prison for a term of three and four months respectively, it should certainly make some provision for that family in some regular and proper manner, and not leave them like flotsam and jetsam on the waves of misery, to be picked upbyanyonedisposodto give them shelter, In the present case, fortunately for the little ones, some of them at least'have fallen into good hands and no doubt mil he well cared for during their mother's enforced absence, but it is only by the merest chance that this is the case.

It is also a most peculiar thing that people can be found to subscribe money to fee a lawyer to prosecute a case already in the hands of the police, who might fairly be expected to do their duty in the matter, lam, etc Settler, Mauriceville E., 17th August.