MILFORD SOUND PENAL ESTABLISHMENT.

Evening Star, Issue 8529, 30 May 1891, Page 1 (Supplement)

MILFORD SOUND PENAL ESTABLISHMENT.

Dr William Burke, a medical man of note in South Africa, is at present enjoying a well-earned respite from his professional duties, and is touring through New Zealand. Dr Burke left his home at Kimberley some three months ago to become acquainted with the Australiaa, and being of a discrimi nating and observant nature, his impressions of New Zealand are worthy of note. The doctor has come to Bee the sights, and is seeing them most effectually. He had the good fortune to obtain a trip in the Hinemoa on her last round of the South Island, and he is much impressed with what he saw. He is (adds the 'Lyttelton Times') full, ilao, of admiration for the scenery of the West Coast Sounds, and, although a worldwide traveller, declares there is nothing to compare with our wonderland for grandeur. In regard to the penal establishment at Milford Sound, Dr Burke said to one of our staff: " While I consider the experiment quite a feasible one, I am afraid that there aje not enough warders there, and the prisoners seem, at least so I gathered from inquiry, to be almost masters of the situation. From the fact that the governor of the gaol took away thirteen or fourteen of them who were, I understand, almost on the point of mutiny, I am forced to conclude that they are not sufficiently under control. I believe there are some four warders to over forty prisoners, who seem to do their work in a very leisurely manner. It is true the work is hard road - making through very heavy bush. There are also a gaoler and doctor there. The prisoners—indeed, everybody there—are lodged in corrugated iron houses, and seem to be well treated in regard to their food. There is a good bakery ; we tried some of the bread on the Hinemoa, and found it very good. I had no opportunity of seeing the discontented men who were removed, and the prisoners I did meet seemed quite contented ; in fact, thought their lines had fallen in pleasant plaoes. Some men, I understand, thought it a hardship to be taken there, but seeing their very pleasant surroundings and their apparent comfort I was surprised to hear that there had been any disoontent. I oonsider that the cost of the establishment must be very heavy; you see it is so far from its supplies. The work could, I should think, be done very much more cheaply by a contractor employing free men."