REFINED CRUELTY.

New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator, Volume IV, Issue 329, 2 March 1844, Page 3

REFINED CRUELTY.

To the Editor cf the " New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator." Sir, — It will scarcely be believed, but it is no less true, that the two officers now under the Sheriff doing duty as watchmen, or gate keepers at the jaol, have to do duty thirty-six hours out of every forty-eight, or duty through the whole of each day, and all of every other night. Originally one kept the day, and the other the night watch, and changed weekly every Saturday, the one who did day duty this week taking night duty next ; but since the last prisoners were convicted, one has to be with the prisoners at their work all day, while the other keeps the gate, so that they both do day duty, and one has to remain all night, while there are plenty of constables walking about the beach doing little more than nothing all day, and one might easily be spared to attend the business. These poor victims, under the Sheriff, have one of them 3s. 6d. per day, and the other 45., and perhaps did they refuse this hard duty would lose their employment. One of them has a large family. What will our humane Governor say when he learns that advantage is taken of these poor men's necessities to inflict such refined cruelty on them ? I am, Sir, Your obedient servant, Observer.