The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1866.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 238, 10 December 1866, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1866.

Comparisons, they say, are odious, yet half the busioess of life consists in instituting comparisons between our felloAV creatures and ourselves. When this is done from an honest desire to learn and not from an envious or boasting spirit, there is no harm in the exercise whatever people may say to the contrary. It struck us frequently during the course of the examination of the great criminals avlio were confined for several months in Nelson Gaol, that justice was hardly done to themauagemeut Avhich they Avere kept in safe custody, deprived of all motive to escape, and the public freed from all anxiety as to the probability of such ruffians being again let loose upon society. The greater credit avus due to the gaol authorities for the safe detention of these crinuuals, as ihe fragile nature of the building rendered it a very unfit place in Avhich to confine men avlio were adepts in the art of escaping from confinement, and experienced plotters against all authority within as well as Avithout the penal establishments of the country. It is not possible to compliment the Nelsou Gaol authorities for their conduct on a recent occasion, without referring to, and in some instances, disparaging similar establishments in the other provinces. Both in Otago and Auckland, criminals haveattemptedsuccessfully toeseapefrom gaol, and in the latter province particularly insubordination appears to be a chronic disease, the escapes are characterised by singular daring, and the management by the utmost feebleness and imbecility. We are fully aAvare that the buildings in which criminals are confined in NeAV Zealand are ill adapted to the purpose. This imposes the necessity for a more numerous guard, greater watchfulness ou the part of the ofncials, and especially requires a higher order of morale on the part of the subordinates than seems to exist iu some parts of the colony. The Auckland Provincial Council have recently published a return of all prisoners Avho have attempted to escape from Mount Eden Gaol, during the last six years ; the names of those avlio have escaped and been recaptured, and the names of the men who have been discharged from Government employment at this gaol, since April, 1865. It appears that during this period thirtyseven prisoners attempted to escape, but Avere not successful ; twenty-six actually effected their escape, but Avere recaptured, Avith. the exception of five avlio are uoav at large ; and tAventy-two Avarders or overseers Avere dismissed for various kiuds of improper conduct. Amongst the charges brought against the Avarders are iusoleuce, neglect, sleeping on duty, using profane language, drunkenness, ancl disobedience of orders. That it should have been found necessary to dismiss so many officers, for such offences, Avithin so short a space of time, discloses mismanagement of an extraordinary kind, and removes all cnuse of wonder that insubordination and attempts to escape should be common amongst the prisoners. There is no reason to suppose that a charge of bad management can be brought against the Otago Gaol authcrities. The gaol though far superior to that of Nelson, is by no means equal to the exigencies of the occasion, and it is highly creditable to those Avho superintend the prison arrangements, that, if Ave remember rightly, from seventy to ninety criminals, many of them, of the worst class, are employed ou the public works, to the great advantage of the Government and the community, and are kept in order, by some dozen men armed with Colt's revolving rifles. Occasionally a fellow refuses to work aad is subjected lo greater punishment, till he submits. Some months ago a daring escape was effected by two criminals, imprisoned for bushrunging, one of Avhom lost his life, and one of the Avarders was seriously wounded. The escape in this instance, does not appear to have originated in any deficiency of morale on the part, of the officers, but was due to the crowded state of the gaol of Avhich the prisoners who escaped took advantage.

The last successful attempt to escape from Mount Eden Gaol, was by a prisoner named Frederick Plummer, who was awaiting hia trial on several charges of burglary. He haa addressed an impudent letter to the D. S. Cross, which appears in another column, in which he throAvs some light on the conduct on the gaol authorities and Avhich, whilst it affords amusement to the public must mortify the Government iu no ordinary degree. Ths remedy for this state of things appear to be a greater amount of vigilance than has beeu previously exercised. We remember that Avhen Burgess and his confederates were taken to Nelson Gaol, fears Avere expressed by the wise in prison discipline that so ricketty a place Avould not hold such violent characters, and the prisoners hinted at something of the kind. They reckoned without their host, hoAvever, for they soon found it was useless to think of escape, aud were fouud quoting the senteuce Dante places at the entrance of his Infierno, "All ye who enter here, leave hope behind." This result Avas achieved by firmness, vigilance, aud strict attention to rule. The prisoners knew they Avere incessantly Avatched and that escape was impossible ; that any disobedience to orders Avould be folloAved by stricter discipline, hence after the first attempt their submission Avas perfect ; aud that a fragile building does not favor the escape of criminals Avhen it is manned by men of strong nerves, stout hearts, and high morale. — who know nothing but devotedness to duty and fearlessness of consequences. Probably the lesson which Plummer, in his retreat, is teaching the managers of the Mount Eden Gaol, will bring about the reform in discipline, the Avant of which has led to the insubordination which threatens to render the Auckland Gaol a useless institution.