GAOL LIFE AT TAURANGA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1445, 6 July 1868, Page 4

GAOL LIFE AT TAURANGA.

The following account of what Lis Excellency and Mr. liickmond saw afcTauranga, when they visited the " gaol," is truly amusing. A correspondent says:— * " Tho other day His Excellency in company with the Hon. J.C. I'ichraond and Captain Young, A.D.0., called ot the gaol, a gentle knock wan given, and the door was soon opened from •within. There were three jo'.ly looking men routing themselves before the fire, to all appearances happy and comfortable. An inquiry was made for the gaoler, when one of tho party jumped up afid said "I will soon find him, for he i« only taking an airing," with that ha scampered away. Mr. Richmond enquired from the other two* in wliit capacity they were connected with the eaol. and was answered that thfcy were prisoners. " what is that man th t went,for the gaoler ?" " Ob, he is a prisoner too." "Good Heavens," paid .VTr. R.,"he will run away." " Oh 110," replied the other, "he won t do that, he will foon find tho gaoler and return with him." The Governor and hi* anito were astounded ; in fact they could not believe t'neii own oyes or'oars. "When the prisoner atwed in. campanj with hit gaoler, many enquiries were made of the latter by Mr. Richmond, relating to whether ho was employed by the General or Provincial 'government, and that gentleman concluded by saying, that- what they had just seen and witnessed of a country gaol in a place like Tnuranga, should be duly represented to the Gaol Commissioners. But this was not all. Adjoining tho gaol is a magazine containing * largo supply of ammunition, left to the mercy of any evil disposed person who might run away with it, and take it to the Hauhaus unseen or unmolested ; orif they thought proper, fire it, thereby destroying innocent lives to sny nothing of the destruction of propetty.