THE WELLINGTON GAOL.

Evening Post, Volume XLIX, Issue 114, 15 May 1895, Page 2

THE WELLINGTON GAOL.

• » The Hawke's Bay Herald, in a reoent issue, made a most unjust and untruthful ; attack on the management of the Wellington Gaol. It took as its text some recent escapes, and evidently withont any information as to the oirenmstanoes under whioh those ocourred, it went on to make a series of aoousations against the Gaol management whioh are entirely unfounded. It declared

that Wellington Gaol "ha.s the reputation "of being a place where laxity ia ohtrao- " teriatio, and where lazim si ia proverbial." and that criminals woi.l 1 tathor be there than in any other paol in tho colony It said they are there " coddled " on tha slightest pretext, and not even eipeoted to do the ordinary " Government stroke," and that in it prisoners are often seen stowed away in corners indulging in an illicit pipe or in "forty winka." To those who know ;ho admirable management and the strict disoipline which prevails in the establishmenta under Mr. Garvey's charge these statements will appear positively ludiorons. If the critio had consulted a fow of tho criminal class, who know what life in tho Wellington Gaol ia, instead of drawing inspiration from some jealous or vindictive officers of that "one horse" establishment which does duty as a gaol in Napior, he would never have committed himself to such absurdly false and malicious statements. Fortunately, perhaps, there is a jonrnalist who has bad practical experience of how matters are managed in the Wellington Gaol. It will be remembered that the Editor of tho Woodville Examiner was incarcerated thero for a time in oonneotion with a libel case. The Examiner has not been slow to come to the defence of the Gaoler whose reputation has been so wantonly and unfairly assailed We cannot do better in the cause of justice than to reproduce what it says. Regarding the ohargo of general laxity and of laziness being proverbial, tbe Examiner declarOß it to bo " a downright lio," and it adds -" Tho " prison syatem of the colony does not " possess a more intelligent, vigilant, re- " liable, and painstaking offioer than Mr. " Garvey. We havo nothing to cay " against Mr. Soverue, but to compare " the Napier and Wellington Gaols dis- " plays lamentable ignorance on tho part "of the writer. Tho Napier Gaol is a " very Bmall affair, with a few prisoners. " Wellington Gaol comprises four different " establishments— tho Terrace Gaol, the " Mount Cook Prison, and two outlying " fortification works on whioh prisoners are' " employed, and where they are inoarce- " rated. Then, again, Wellington Gaol is " the dratting ground for all tho most des- •' potato criminals in tho oolony. With " such a soattered establishment to look " after, and with the most desperate class " of humanity, the wonder is, not that thero '* are occasional escapes from Wellington " Gaol, but that suoh escapes are not more " frequent. As to ' laxity being charaoter- " istio,' we know that the Gaoler, Mr. " Garvey, is on the gui vive during every " moment of his life, and that Sunday ib the " only day of the week wbon his prison " duties allow of a little leisure. At all " hours of the night, as well as during tho •' day, he goes the round of the prison in '■' person to see that the officers are at their " posts ; while strict discipline is observed " throughout. The officers, too, are ntterly " overworked, having to be on duty from " twelve to eighteen hours a day. Not much " room for laziness thero ! Perhaps our " contemporary mistakes Mr. Garvoy's high " sense of the duty of his position ier ■' leniency. Ho is the one gaoler in the " colony who endoavonr3 to make prison " life a meaus of reform, instead of a means " of hardening the criminal in a life of crime. " He makoa a close study of character, and " endeavours to treat his prisoners accord- " inj>ly. This is the secret of his snocess in " dealing with men whoso career in the other " gaols of the colony has been a torm of on- " tinned insubordination. His adminiatra- " tion of tho Probation Act is an unqualified " tribute to his ability as a moral and social " reformer. Ho has dealt with the scores of '■ cases which have gone through Irs hand " in such a way that he has induced nearly " all his probationers to halt on the road to " crime, and to lead honest and ininatnons " lives. He has started many a " gaol bird" " on a new path by the kindly interest he " has displayed in men whom he believed " capable of better things, and when such a " prisoner's term ha 3 expired wo have " known him subscribe the money to give " him a start in life, and send him to a part " of the colony whore his past career would " not be known as a stain against him." The Examiner declares its statements to be dorived " from personal knowledge, close " observation, and strict enquiry." We have not had the same personal opportunities of observation, hut we know onoueh to justify us in unequivocally endorsing the remarks of tho Examiner as to Sir. Garvey and tho gaol under his control. Tho Herald has demanded enquiry, and tho Examiner says, " Let it bo held. No one has le-s oanso to fear such enquiry than Mr. Garvey." We quite agree with our contemporary, and we can only regret that a paper like the Hawkes Bay Herald should have saffered itself to be usod as the instrument of an evidently malioioua attack, absolutely devoid of truth.

The appointment of Jfr. J. W. Poynton to a Stipendiary Magistracy will cause a good deal of surprise, tor Mr. Poynton is a nmu not very much known in tho colony. Wo venture to think, however, that it will prove to be a very good appointment. Mr. Poynton is not a prominent member of hie profession, but be is a very sound lawyer, and a man possessed, wo believe, in an eminent degree of a iudicial mind. He ie an unobtrusive, painstaking maa who pains the respect of those with whom he is brought into contact, and although he holds strong political opinions of an exceedingly liberal cast, he does not push them to extremes ot urge them nnroasonably. It is no doubt to his sympathy with the Labour Party that he owe 3 his present promotion, but the appointment is certainly not one to cavil at. Mr. Poynton will probably make an exceptionally good Magistrate The manner in which he has raised himself from a working miner to bis present position is highly oroditable to him. He is on extremely well-read man, and having been foi some years a Justice of the Peaco, is not altogether withont experienco on tbeßenoh, We wish him every success in his new oareor.

An interesting lotter from Mr. J. G. Wil1 son, M.H.R., in reference to Mr. Nathan's . frozen meat scheme, appears on the fourth page, together with reports of the Rugby Union meeting, the annual meeting of the ' Liedertafel, and sundry other itonia. The Minister for Education proposes to ' introduce next session a Bill to establish a ; Court of Appeal for State School teaohers. Letters reoeived by to-day's inaii from Mr. j John Duthie state that his health has been considerably improved by a visit to Bath, i and on tho 7th of April he returned to London to completo his business. He intended to spend the Master holidays in Scotland, and then to enjoy throe weeks' holiday in London' before starting on his return to the oolony. There were 13G passengers from Australia by the Talune last night, including 14 Chinoso, aud 81 (13 of them Chinese) landed st Wellington. The Illustrated London News of 30th March contains a full-page advertisement i headed " Mining in New Zealand— Aohillea Gold Fields, Limited, 1 ' There are four ' illustrations. It will probably be news to most of our readers to learn that this conii pany " owns the celebrated Phranix Mine, , knoivn to bn one of the richest and best gold mines in Now Zealand," whioh is 1 situated at Skippers, in Otigo. £50,000 has, it is Btated, been already spent in developing tho properties and on the niachii nery. There is no signature or name i attached to this advertisement, but inves- . tors aro invited to "go to the New Zealand i Colonial Offioo in Viotoria-streot, Wost- . minster, and see that the property is a i genuine gold mine, and has paid in the past.' ' We wonder whether it is onstomary to use the Agent-General as a reference in this way, or who it is is trying to exploit this particular gold mine ? '. A correspondent asks— Can some of your astronomical friends who from time to time contribute notes to your columns inform mo ; whoro to look for the star Alpha Centauri, , and how to distinguish it ; also Canopus and , Sirius, if visible in our heavens < 1 Boots aro badly wanted by the Benevolent Society's Trustees, especially for children. Many poor people in Wellington are unable ' to send their children to sahool owing to 1 want of boots, and the Trustees ask that anyone who has boots which have become too 1 small for his family shall sond them to the Secretary of the Benevolent Sooioty. 1 Misses E. J. Miller and J. Falconer have been appointed pupil teaohers at the Belvedere and Pahiatua schools respectively. Messrs. C. E. Zohrab, H. D. Crawford, A. D. Crawford, and E. H. Beere have been declared eleoted members of the Seatoun , Road Board. A cottage owned and occupied by William Searle was accidentally burnt down at Picton a night or two since, through a ahild upsetting a lighted candle, whioh set fire to tbo wall-ijaper. The house was insured for JUOO in the Norwich Union office, but there was no insurance on the contents, valued at £60. A private letter reoeived from Brisbane states that Abbott, the famous Queensland three-quarter, who gained mnoh distinction as a New South Wales representative footballer while at Sydney University, and whom it was especially desired to see in New Zealand last year with the New South Wales team, will be a member of tho Queensland team this year. The Queensland Union has resolved that, no matter what other qualifications a player may have, no one will be i picked for the team who oannot be abso1 lutely relied upon to refieot no discredit upon the team off the field, S. Cookroft, 1 the well-known ex-New Zealand representa1 tive, will be one of the team. He is now a . resident of Brisbane, where he has ooacbed i the City Club with Buoh effect that it has i defeated tho crack Boomerang team for ' whioh Abbott plays, and the City is expected , to gain the premiership. ■ At yesterday's meeting of the Benevolent \ Sooiety Trustees a letter was read from Mr. '; W-. Simm, Secretary of the Dramatic ' Students, offering to devote the proceeds of ; the performance of Pinero's " Sohool- \ mistress" to the benefit of the Benevolent Institution, provided the Trustees would 1 assist in working tbe matter up. Mr. Simm wrote that the play, whioh is quite new to a ' Wellington audience, is by the most suo- ; oessful and popular dramatist of the day. ' It has been admirably oast, the majority of the company being in the front rank of ! Wellington amateurs. The oast thus re- : f erred to is as follows : —Hon. Vere Qneokett, \ Mr. M. Fox ; Admiral Rankling, Mr. H. E. 1 Nioholls ; Lieutenant Malory, Mr. A. Newton; Reginald Fauloner, Mr. W. Simm; 1 Herr Otto Bernstein, Mr. W. P. Bastin; ' Tyler and Gough, Mr. R. Hall: Geoffrey, Mr. Bastin ; Saunders, Mr. Letham ; Miss Dyott, Miss Jessie Newton ; Peggy Hesslerigge, Miss Newton; Mrs. Rankling, Miss Watson ; Dinah Rankling, Misa Mabel ; Hill ; Gwendoline Hawkins, Miss O. Letham [ Ermytrude Johnson, Miss A. K. Parsons ; Jane Chipman, Miss L. Watson. Mr. H, E. NioholU is stage manager. The Trustees deoided to give their patronage to the performanoe. A donation of £5 5s has been made to the funds of the Orohestral Society by Mi. E. Pearoe, who was recently eleoted President. The amount hag been pjaoed to the drum fund aoaount.

The London Thnos of 4th April, in it 3 " Court Ciroular " oolnnm, oontains the following — "Tho Treasurer of New Zealand, tho Hon. J. G. Ward, and Mrs. Ward havo moved from Park-place, St. James's-street, to the Westminster Palace Hotel, where they will reside during the remainder of their stay in London. Mr. Ward has been suffering more or less ever since he arrived from a bad oold, and has been unable to return oalla or ccc strangers. He is now auffioiently rooovored to attend to business, and has Tcceived deputations from the shareholders of the Bank of New Zealand and tho bondholders of the Oamarn and New Plymouth Harbour Boards. This afternoon ho will address the Colonial Party at the House of Commons, and ho has accepted invitations to address both the London and Glasgow Chambers of Commerce on New Zealand affairs." Tho Dairy Regulations Committee met yesterday afternoon. Present — The Mayors of Wellington (in.tbo chair), Karori, Melrose, and Onslow, Messrs. L. L. Harris, E. H. Beere, Cook, and Speedy. Mr. W. A. Fitzberbnrt wrote apologising for absence owing to an accident. Mr. < 'oilier, the Inspeotor of Dairies, reported that those he had so far inspected were in the main satisfactory as regards sanitary oondition. At some, improvements would be necessary , and it was decided by the Committee that the Inspector should report at the next moating as to what improvements would be roquired. Mr. B. Y. Eedward, of tho Crown Jaw Office, was to-day admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court, before His Honour the Chief Jnstioo, on Mr. A. Gray's motion. Alexander Dunn (Messrs. Moorhouse & Hadfield's offics) was admitted to a liko status, on the motion of Mr. Moorhonaa. It has been decided to re-open, as an aided school, tho Korokoro Sohool, recently closed by the Kdueation Board on account of the' falling-off in the attendance. The Committee has appointed Miss Margaret Nairn to the charge of the eohool at a salary of £70 per annum, and she will commence her duties on Monday next. " Vigilant " writes to request Inspcc f or Pender to instruct the Newtown or some other constal le to visit Upper A delaide-road to put a stop to the nuisanoo oauced by a lot of boys and young men who congregate near a gardener's, and make the hours hideons by their yelling and bellowing. Last night, off and on from 7 30 to 9.30, they amused themselves by playing football in the road, and quiet residents had no peace. If the police will not put a stop to the annoyance some of the residents will themselves put ti e law in motion. The rowdios are welt known. In the Stipendiary Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon, Laery and Co., auctioneers, sued the City Corporation for £ld, as the price of a horso said to have been bought by Captain ICemsloy for tho use of the Fire Brigade. Tho olaim was resisted on tho ground that the hnrso was only taken on trial, and tho plaintiffs wero nonsuited with £1 5s costs. Mr. Beere appeared for the plaintiffs, and Mr. M. Richmond for the Corporation. In a case in which Mrs. Needlmm suod A. Conroy and wife, to recover £2 5a for loss of time through breach of agreement, judgment was given against Mrs. Conroy for 03, with Gi costs. Mr. Travers appeared on bohalf of tho defendants. J. B. Curtis, arrested at Akatirawa, near Upper Hutt, yesterday, on a charge of horsestealing, has been remanded until Friday. Accused has been in business in Wellington as a commission agent, and i 3 somewhat eccentric The Eduoation Board has instructed its arobiteot (Mr. T. Turnbull) to prepare plans for an infunt Bchool at Pahiatua. Arrangements have now been made whereby the Mararoa will woik Gisborne and Napier on tho Bamo day, consequently she will arrive here on her time-table date, Friday. Hor departure for the South has boo.i fixed for 7 p.m. on that day. The appointment of supervisor in the estate of Friedlander Bros , merchants, Ashburton, has boeu conferred upon Mr. W, R. Cook, of tho firm of Cook and Gray, Wellington. The firm has just opened a branch in Dunedin. Mr. F. Pirani, M.H.R., haß|beon elected a member of tho Wanganui Education Board, defeating Mr. S. H. Drew by 58 votes to 29. Detoctive Benjamin brought up from Christcburch this morning a stylishly dressed young woman named Frances Irene Komperman, who was lator on oharged in the Magistrate's Court with tho larceny of a boa, of the value of £5, the property of Mrs. Tabor. The boa was taken from the ladies' cabin of the Takapuna on the 3rd of May, and was subsequently found in the possession of the accused. She explained that she found it amongst hor luggage two or three days after leaving the steamer. It was taken quite by mistiko, and she had no intention of stealing it. The Bench of Justices (Messrs. W. G. Tiißtin, C. E. Willeston, and F. Sidey) accepted the explanation, and dismissed the case. Mr. C. P. Skerrctt appeared on bohalf of the accused. The only other case on the list was the charge of false pretences against John W. Churchward, tho hearing of which was further adjourned for a week. A mooting of the Executive of the Prohibition League was held lost night, Mr. A. It. Atkinson presiding. Tho question of taking action anent tho conduct of three Justices of tho Peace of Clutha, who are alleged to havo confessed in opou Conrt to being party to breaches of the Licensing Act, was considered, and in view of tho gravity of the matter Hb consideration was deferred till the Palmorston North Convention, to which several delegates woro appointed. Satisfaction was expressed at tho fact that undor the auspices of the New Zealand Alliance a monster Central Temperance Convention, embiacing all parts of the colony, is to be held during the coming session of Parliament ; and the action of tho local police in preventing sly grog-soiling at the rocent Hutt raoes was highly commended. At a meeting of the Committee of tho Wellington Scenery Preservation Society held last night, a communication wa3 roooived from the Town Clork to the effect that tho City Koservo3 Committee had been empowered to oonfer with a committee of the Sooioty upon tho questions brought boforo the Mayor by tho reoent deputation. Tho Secretary was instructed to inform the Reserves Committee that a aub committee would be formed at an early date to meot and consult with it upon the matters named. The Committee accepted the offer by Mr. F.Hartmanu of the use of hU offioo for committee meetings, and unanimously passed a hearty vote of thanks to him for his generons contribntion to the Society. Tho Secretary reported that although tho wholo of the papers had not yet been retarned, 920 signatures were known to have been affixed to tho petition for presentation to the City Council in rogard to the shelter sheds The anniversary celebration of the Cour-tonay-place Congregational Church concluded last evening with a tea-meeting, the tibles being provided' by the ladies of the church, and presided over by Mesdames Hallowes, Levy, Hutohens, Forsyth, Thawley, Chapman, Costall, Biugham, Firth. Browu, Stevenson, Barne3, .Russell, and Rountreo. At the congregational meeting following, tho Kov. B. T. Hallowes presided. The annual report showed that steady improvement had been made in all departments of the church's work — the memborship roll had had 25 names added to it, the oongrogation had been gradually filling the ohurch, and a considerable debt had been reduced, while promises wore mode to shortly clear the church of its now small indebtedness. So heartily was au appeal on the last-men-tioned poiut taken up by last night's meeting that a collection, with promises put in tho plate totalling just on .£2O, enabled the statement to bo made that Bomo .£lO will now quite olear away the debt. Addresses woro given by Messrs Dallaston, Habens, and Glasson, and on the motion of Mr. S. Costall a vote of thanks was given to all who had boon conneoted with the anniversary proceedings. The Mayor of Wellington (Mr. C. M. Luke) presided over a meeting of between 20 and M 0 ladies held at tho Corporation Oflioes yesterday afternoon to arrange for a day's pleasure for the poor children in the city on the Basin Reserve on the Queen's Birthday. Several apologies for absence from the meeting were read. The Mayor said he had rooeivod numerons promises of aßßistance, and he had no doubt the money neoessary for carrying ont so laudable a purpose would be readily Btibsoribed. He had reoeived a subscription of £1 from the Eev. W. C. Watere, and wonld supplement that amount with £2. Mosdames Yoiteh, Bannister, Wright, Smith, Murdoch, Chappie, Hislop and Lnke were appointed an Exeontive Committee, and committees were set np to asoertain the deserving poor, colleot subscriptions, and oarry out arrangements for the holiday programme. Mrs. Hislop was appointed Hon.- Secretary; and Mrs. Chappie Hon. Treasurer. The Mayor stated that in oase the day should prove wet, Major Messenger had placed the Drillshed at the disposal of the Committee. The Garrison Band, whioh had arranged an open-air performance in aid of its funds on the Queen's Birthday, had offered to play for the ohildren, if allowed the privilege of taking up a colleoKon from visitors in aid of the band funds. The oommittee entrusted with the task of finding out the deserving poor arranged to meet again at half -past 3 o'clook on Thursday, and invites ministers of all denominations to attend. The General Committee will meet at 330 o'olock next Tuesday. The soiree in connection with the Sydneystreet Primitive Methodist Snnday-sohool anniversary was held last evening There was a large attendance, and the tables were in charge of Mesdames Dumbell, Guy, I. Clark, «. Clark, and Murdoch, Misseß Murdooh, Smith, Bulkley, Fisher, Gillespie, Tinney, and Parsonage. Mr. Jas. Diokson was oaterer. The publio meeting was well attended, and the Jier. J. Dumbell presided. The Seoretary (Mr. HaddonJ read tho report, whioh showed that there were now 100 soholars on the roll and oight teachers. The balance-sheet showed an income of £23 18s 2d, and an expenditure of .£25. The Revs. E. Drake and J. Guy spoke ; reoitations were given by the soholars ; and hymns were song by the ohildren (who had been trained by Mr. J. Diokson), aided by the members of the choir and others. Miss Murdooh presided at the organ. A vote of thanks was given to all who had helped to make the anniversary a success. His Eiosllenoy the Governor and Lady Glasgow have accepted an invitation to attend the opening performanoe of "Euddigcre" by the Amateur Operatic Sooiety at the Opera House next Wednesday evening. A largely-attended meeting of the Catholio Carnival and Fancy Fair Oommittee was hold last evening, Mr. Martin Kennedy in the chair . Beports from the sab-oommittees showed satisfactory progress, and the Car. nival promises to supply a speotaole hitherto not attempted in Wellington. Ths Hon. Seoretary of the Boys' Institute acknowledges reoeipt of the following annual subscriptions :— Mr.- A. Hoby, £2 2s; Messrs. 8. Costall, F. De J. Olere, Abbott, Omm & Co., and the Dresden Piano Co. (per Mr. M. J. Brookes), £1 Is eaoh) Messrs. M'Ewen & ChurohUl, 10s. '

The Defence Minister has derided not to insist npon Queen's Birthday parades and feux de joie, in view of tha hardships undergone by Volunteers at the Easter encampments. It will be left to the discretion of Volunteer officers whether they shall parade and fire the usual volleys or not. In Wellington, however, the D Battery will parade and fire a royal salute before proceeding to Lyell's Bay to complete the gun practice which had to be out short owing to tbe Easter weather. Mr. Graham, M.H.R. for Nelson, is in town, and waited upon Ministers to.day in connection with Nelson interests. The regular meeting of tbe Excelsior Lodge of Druids was held last evening, Bro. J, Demuth, A.D., in the chair. Bro. J. Johnston, P.A., tabled a notice of motion for the quarterly meeting, re joining tbe Distriot Grand Lodge. One guinea was voted to the mother of a deceased brother, who was said to he in need. Bro. J. Maokay, D.G.P. of the North Island and West Coast, was unanimously eleotcd an honorary member, and two candidates were proposed for initiation. An invitation to a " sooial evening " on Thursday next, in connection with the Pacific Lodge, was given to members. The Wellington Pigeon Flying Club got off its Derby raoe from Wanganui on Saturday. There were six competitors. On acoount of tho bad weather lately, the birds wero not very well trained, and in consequence tbe velocity was not good. The following were the placed birds :— Mr. F. J. Rudgo's Isca, 878 yds 2ft 4in per minute; Mr. J. Hopwell's Kajnh, 878 yds lft Bin ; Mr. W. E. Lanoy's Waitangi, 875 yds lft 4in ; Mr. Prontice's Pet, 875 yds. This is the first of a series of races for the Te Aro House Challenge Cup, presented by Mr. James Smith. Mr. J. F. Fitzgerald acted as judge. St. Mark's Cburoh organ, whioh has beon rebuilt and enlarged, is now complete, and will bo opened en Tuesday evening next by an orgau recital to be given by Mr. G. F. Tendall, Mus. Bac, Oxon., organist, of Cbristchurch Cathedral. No pains have been spared by the contractors, Messrs Finohain and Hobday, o* Melbourne, to turn out a first- olass organ. Those interested are more than pleased with the work. On the Talune's last voyage from Wellington to Sydney with live stock, not an animal was lost, although rough weather was met with at times. The whole of the stock was landed in first-oluss condition This is believed to be the first time that suoh a reoord has beon made. Twenty Southern unemployed arrived by tho Flora to-day, some to bo sent to Government works on ths Awakino Blook, some of them boing put on tho altarnate system. 1 he manager of the Now Zealand Aooident Insurance Company publibin'S in another column a lotLer from Mr. W. R. Haselden noknowleclginjr tho prompt and satisfactory settlement of a claim under a policy. The first of tho series of Popular Concerts under the n anairemi'ntof Mr.C. M'Guinness, will take place at the Skating Itink to-night. The " liviu; pioturo? " will bo a main feature. A liftoon.roomeil boardinghouse is advertised for sale by Si.ley nud Co. To morrow, at 2.30 p.m., TV. M. Lawson nnd Co. will sell by auction, at their rooms, Limbtonquuy, a very duo collection of rufts, mats, and ladies' furfi, made up in urst-clasi stylo ; also, a l:u'i;c ussortmcut of English furniture will be offered, without reserve. T. K. Macdounld tmi Co. (Limited) call attention to ft shipment of rare toilet sets, in green and shell patterns and burnished gold ; also, 20 cases of assorted chtyrs, which they will sell by auction, at their rooms, on Friday afternoon, at 3 o'clock. They specially invite ladieß to inspect the toilet sets, which are quite unique and beautiful. A. O. Tame and Co. will sell to-morrow, at Slanukau, stock. Churchward and Co. will sell to-morrow, freehold property, Holloway-road. W. F, Shortt sells to-morrow, furniture, Ac.