THE AUCKLAND LOCK-UP. To the Editor of the Daily Southern Cross.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIX, Issue 1783, 7 April 1863, Page 4

THE AUCKLAND LOCK-UP. To the Editor of the Daily Southern Cross.

Sir, — A coriespondent in votn issue of the 2nd insfc., higning himself "A Resident,'' in alluding to the estimates "for the current year, refers more pai ticularly to two it<Mns — namely, £100 for lations for the lock-up of Autkliwl nnd those of the country district-i, and £100 for the Mechanics' Institute To some member of the latter institution I leave the task of explaining what the eitcumstances ate which make it desirable that so useful an institution as that of the Mechanics 1 .should leceive aid fiotn and be countenanced by the Piovincinl Legislature. But feeling that a grave charge is implied in the assertion that the pei sons confined do not get a p.uticle of rations while kept in duiance in the Auckland loclc-i))», I made in} self officiou-. enough to enquire into the matter, and have disooveied that your correspondent writes in gioss ignorance of the facts of the case. The Provincial Goveiftment, it appears, found it convenient to place the item (which after all is but the probable amount) ou the estimates in its piesent shape, and it is intended to cover the cost of rations foj prhoneis nmlei going sentence of confinement in the gaols (publicly pi oclaimed iw such) in the dKtiicts of Russell and Mongonui, a«i follows — namely, ,£4S for the En-sell gaol, and £id foi the Mongonui gaol. These sums aie expended under the biipeiinlendence of the Resident Magistrates of these clis tiicts, which expenditure is duly ceitifiVd to by the3e officers at the end of each quarter. You will, therefore, peiceive that the large sum of £12 remains to cover the cost of rations at the Auckland lock-up, for piisoners remanded, from time to time, during the investigation of their ofTcnce*, and drunkards who are not in a position to pay the amount of their fines. Now, sir. J am at a lo«s to know what your coriespouclent desires to insinuate, whether it is that he means that the lock-up keeper con«pires with the contractor to defiaud the Government of the sum of twenty shillings per month, or that old Leary gets the pound and a half of biead, of which the mtion consists, and eats it himself, which is a supposition perfectly preposterous. I think, sir, I have made it quite clear to your many readers that the remarks of " A Resident," in so far as they lelate to the item "£lOO for latiorm for the lock-up of Auckland and those of the country districts," are quite erroneous, and it might not be out of place hero to consider whether he ha«i not been guilty of a libellous assertion, the consequences of which, if he now escapes, lie would do well to avoid in future. — I am, sir, yours, &c , Another RrsiDENT.