THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1893.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9865, 10 October 1893, Page 2

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1893.

In Colonel Hume's report on theprisoDS of the colony, which was recently laid before _ Parliament, he t makes his periodical protest. against the practice of sending to prison children 'of tender years. Colonel Hume mentions that during the past year 12 children under the age of 10 years had been confined in prisons, being an increase of two on the number so confined in 1890. It is very clear that imprisonment can do no good to those young breakers of the law, and it is high time the practice was put an= end to. No doubt, compulsory detention is a punishment, but that it acts as a deterrent in these cases we do not believe. Corporal punishment is very much more suitable for children of this age, and has connected with it none of the evils which are inseparably associated with the other. Some suitable corporal punishment might be administered by the parents of the children, or by someone appointed by them, or by the court, such administration to take place in the presence of the police, or of a person authorised by the court, to see that its orders are duly carried out. However much the managers of prisons may try to keep children under their charge free from contact with the other prisoners— a proportion of these being almost invariably old and confirmed . criminals—there cannot but be a certain amount of association with them, and this cannot fail to do harm to the children. Moreover, the ordinary rigours of prison life cannot be enforced in the case of a child, and he is apt therefore to get a false idea of what it really is. Again, with the great majority of people the horror of being sent to prison—the thing which would have the deterrent effect on most people if they were purposing to commit a crime —consists to but a small extent in the disinclination to have their personal liberty curtailed for a longer or shorter period. What they think of most is the losing of caste, the disgrace which attaches to imprisonment— the different position which they would afterwards occupy in relation to their friends and the world. When a man has been in prison once this feeling wears off. He does not respect himself as much as he did before, and he knows that his neighbours respect him very much less. His friends, if he has any at all, will now be few. The consequence of all this is that the fear of future sentences of imprisonment will not have the same effect on him as his first prospect of prison life. Almost all children, no matter how well they may haye been brought up, are guilty occasionally of offences against the law—such as wilful injury to property, or even thefts of a trivial kind. When children are guilty of such-offences in an unusual degree the fault is to a great extent that of their parents, who ought indeed to be made more responsible for their children's conduct than they are now. It is certainly unfair, as it is in the highest degree injudicious, that a child who may happen to be guilty of any of the offences which, as we have said, almost all children occasionally commit, should be sent to a prison, should be known when he comes out as a gaol-bird, and should haye throughout his life this stigma attaching to his name.

An answer to the question as to what is the chief cause of juvenile criminality is to be found in an interesting article hy the Rev. A. A. W. Drew in. the Majr number of the " Contemporary Review." This gentleman, who is chairman of the Industrial Schools Committee of the London School Board, and -who has had nearly 80 years' closo acquaintance with the children of the metropolis, states that he has no hesitation in saying that truancy is to be oredited with nearly the whole of it. He thinks that i£ much inoro energetio steps were taken to .deal with young truants the list of convictions for criminal offences would be largely .reduced. Children, he says, become truants first and criminals afterwards, and there are many .cases where a fine imposed on the parents for not seeing that their children attend school regu-

larlj would prevent these ever becoming part of the criminal class. Once every week Mr Dbew has before him papers containing reports of all the cases of juvenile crime which are of the industrial school class tried in the police courts of the metropolis, and he finds that in at least seven cases out of every ten the children who have been convicted are those whose school attendance has previously been the worst. He believe that the key of the whole position is the prompt and efficient dealing with truancy in its early stages. The problem, he saya, is to get all idle children out of the streets, and to save them from themselves and their evil surroundings by giving them a good sound secular and religious education. In the article we have referred to he points out that it is advisable that there should be for corrective, industrial, and educational purposes a graduated series of establishments suitable for the many varying cases which have to be dealt with, and he gives a description ■of the various establishments for these purposes which exist in England. There are, first, the public elementary school, then the truant school, then the day industrial Bchool, then the ordinary certified industrial school, then the reformatory, and, last of all, the prison. In London these are all at present in existence, with the exception of the day industrial school. One of the latter is, however, to be tried there as an experiment, and will shortly be opened. Mr Drew states as his opinion that under no circumstances should a child be consigned even for a day to a prison. The London system of dealing with truants is interesting, and has been very successful. These are committed to the truant schools for from eight to ten weeks, and are then sent back to their ordinary schools. If they again become truants they.are sent to the truant school again—this time for three months—which seldom fails to cure them altogether. In the case of the best of the truant schools 80 per cent. of those sent to them never come back a second time, and of the remainder only 6 per cent, come a third time. The success of the truant school system depends on the children knowing that the future is in their own hands, and that if they do not;; attend their own schools regularly -they are sent back to the truant school. They decide to change their conduct, as they prefer to stay at home. The day industrial school is in existence in Liverpool and some other placeß. Children are taken to it every morning and discharged at 6 o'clock in the evening. These are supplied with three good meals, and Bpend half their time in Bchool work, yhile the other half, is devoted to industrial training. The percentage of children cured of their evil habits by these day industrial schools is not so large as in the case of the ordinary certified industrial schools. This Mr Dbew ascribes to the fact that in many cases complete separation from home influences is the secret of success. The.opinions of Mr Drew are, we need hardly say, worthy of very careful consideration. In a young colony such as this, where the population is small, we may not be able to have the elaborate machinery for dealing with refractory children which is to be found in a thickly and wealthy country like England, nor is there the same occasion for it, but the vigorous enforcement of the law as to children attending school is within our •powers. As to the matter which we referred to first, we trust that our Legislature will yet be influenced by the opinion of its own officer, Colonel Hume, as well as by that of the English officer we have named, and that it will before long, make it impossible that children can be sent to prison in this colony.

The Saturday Half-holiday Committee, while still adhering to, the opinion that Saturday is the only suitable day for the half-holiday, thinks it right to release those who signed in favour of that afternoon from their obligations, in consequence of some of those who signed having withdrawn from the agreement. While leaving each individual to act as may best suit his own business and circumstances, the committee strongly urges the friends of Saturday as the half-holiday to continue to close on that daji and failing being able to do so; to make such arrangements with their assistants as shall enable their shops to remain open all the week. The committee trust that a compulsory measure may be passed by the next Parliament.

His Honor Mr Justice Williams yesterday granted the application for an order of discharge made on behalf of James Houston, a bankrupt. Just prior to his filing the bankrupt had been offered work by Mr Tapper, a creditor, but the wages to be paid—portion of which was to be devoted to reducing the debt due to that gentleman—were not equal to the rates fixed by the union and usually paid to carpenters, so the offer was declined. It will be remembered that Mr Justice Ward, when the case was before him, commented rather severely on this refusal to accept work. Mr Justice Williams, in referring to the point je3terday, said it appeared to him that the arrangement proposed by Mr Tapper was contrary to the letter, and probably the spirit, of the Truck Act. The lengthened period during which the matter had been before the court was sufficient in his opinion to justify an order of discharge being granted.

Mr Justice Williams leaves for Wellington to-morrow to attend the sitting of the Court of Appeal. *

A somewhat peculiar, case was heard in the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, when an application was made for compensation for cattle killed under the Cattle Act. Mr Stout, who appeared for the applicant, contended thatr the act of 1881 provided for compensation, and the provisions of that abt were embodied in the act of 1890, under which the cattle were killed. The contention of Mr Fraser, who appeared on the other aide, was that under the act of 1881 provision was made for compensation where compensation was payable, but no provision existed in the act that compensation should be payable, and no regulations were made in that direction. Under the act of 1890 there was no reference to compensation. His Worship upheld Mr Eraser's contention and dismissed the application.

The presiding justices at the sitting of the City Police Court yesterday were Messrs J. Wright and C. Allan. Mary O'Neil, who was icharged with drunkenness, when called upon to plead said she had gone for some medicine when some, larrikins knocked her dowD, and on screaming out for the police she was taken into custody. Evidence having been given as to accused's condition by Constable Aitchesoo, the sergeant mentioned that there were 20 previous convictions recorded against the woman, and that she had been before the court twice within the last six months. A fine of 5 j was inflicted, with the alternative of 24 hours' imprisonment. Annie Flynn having pleaded guiity to a charge of a like nature, Sergeant O'Neill stated that the woman only came out of gaol on Saturday after "doing" 12 months for larceny, and that there were 15 previous convictions against her. ITinod 20s, -in default 48 hours' imprisonment Alicia Mannera, for being drunk, was fined Sa wjvb the alternative of 48 houra in gaol.

A satisfactory arrangement having be6n come to concerning the transactions between CorEelius Johns, the absconding auctioneer, and Mrs Berkley, the motion to set aside the bill of Bale was, at the request of the assignee, dismissed by Mr Justice Williams at the Supreme Court yesterday morning.

The Hon. Edwin Mitchelson, M.H.R., arrived in Dunedin last evening by the'espresß train from the north. It is understood he is here on private business,

An application will be made in Chambers to-day for a mandamus ordering the mayor of Oamaru to allow the ■minutes of a meeting of the Oamaru Council to be read. The meeting referred to had been called for the purpose of considering a motion censuring his Worship for statements made by him at a public meeting reflecting on the council. He ruled that the meeting had been irregularly called, and left the chair, but the business was proceeded with. Since then the mayor has refused to allow the minutes of this meeting to be read, and to-day's proceedings are the remit of this refusal. Mr F.R. Chapman appears on behalf of the councillors, and Sir Robert Stout for the mayor, Mr Dunn.

The Chancellor of the Ofcago University (the Rev. Dr Stuart) has received the following gratifying commumcation from the registrar of the New Zealand University:—" The commissioners of the exhibition of 1851 have decided to offer a science scholarship to the University of New Zealand in 1894-."

Mr Wakelin, accountant of the Feilding branch of the Colonial Bank, made a clever capture on Saturday night. The premises of the bank were entered by a man, who was discovered by Mr Wakelin. That gentleman covered the would-be burglar with a revolver, made him put up hia hands, and- marched him off to the police station, where he was locked up. The burglar had a stone slung' in a handkerchief, which he erfdently intended using as a weapon.

The monthly meeting of the Athenwum Committee was held last night, and attended by Messrs J. H. Chapman (in the chair), W. S. Fitzgerald, D. R. White, R. G. Whetter, J. Jack, T. W. Whitson, R. Martin, Professor Gibbon, and Dr Macdonald. It was decided to obtain additional copies of several magazines in order that they might be put into circulation on arrival. The Catalogue Committee were instructed to prepare a list of books obtained siace the beginning of the year so that the same might be catalogued and printed at the close of the year. The Reading-room Committee were requested to report at next meeting as to the illustrated papers and magazines that were available for distribution to the Benevolent ( Institution and the Dunedin Hospital. Messrs Stone, Son, and Co. presented a catalogue of the Auckland Public Library and also " The Official History of New South Wales from 1788 to 1883." A number of accounts were passed for payment, several books were ordered, and other matters in connection with the institution were referred to various sub-committees for consideration.

Information has been received from Captain Harman, of the N.Z.R.A., thathe will be in Oamaru on Wednesday to inspect the proposed range which Mr John M'Lean has so kindly offered for the 1894- meeting of the New Zealand Rifle Association. The shooting men of Christchurch (says the Oamaru Msil) are trying hard to get the meeting held in their own locality, and there are other places whence claims aie likely to come; but.we are certain that the Oamaru site will take some beatiog. The regular monthly meetiDg of the Tomahawk Road Board, held .on Saturday, was attended by Messrs S. Brooks (chairman), J. Mathieson, and T. Henderson. The chairman reported that he had accepted R. Miller and Co.'s tender for 100 yards of metal—so yards for Centreroad and 50 yardsfor Valley road. In the event of the work not being commenced by the 21st inst., he had reserved power to cancel the contract and call for new tenders. The surfaceman was instructed to repair and make the road ready for the metal at Mr Mackerras's. Accounts were passed for payment amounting to £8 2s. ;

An extraordinary story is told by the Daily News, which states that Dr Macgowan has returned to Tien-Tsin, bringing with him, atnoDg other carious discoveries, some particulars of a race of Manchurian monkeys inhabiting the mountain region of the Great Wall of China, They are said to know how to make pottery; more remarkable still, they are represented as having made extraordinary progress in tho art of making wine. A recent edition of the official history of YuDgping states that lately a large body of immigrating monkeys passed a certain village in crossing from1- one mountain to another. The boya of the'village clapped their hands and shouted at the,^spectacle, and the monkeys, being frightened,: fled, taking their young in their arms, but dropping in their flight a number of earthenware vessels, some of which would hold a quart. On }>opening these the villagers found they coiitained • two kinds of wine, a pink and a green, that had been made from mountain berries. It as affirmed that the monkeys store this liquor for use in tho winter when the water is all frozen. Dr Macgowan cites othsr independent testimonies to similar facts, including a Chinese account of monkeys in Chekiang who pound fruit in stone mortars to make into wine, and he asks, " Is it likely that all these statements are pure inventions r"

-■ The Trinity Literary arid Musical Society closed its syllabus for 1893 by an entertainment given in the Trinity Wesleyan Church, Moray place, last evening. There was a fair attendance. The report, which was read by Mr Ernest Rosevear, set forth that this year the officers of the society had endeavoured to make the work of the session .chiefly educational. Six evenings had been devoted to the study of Tenuyson's "In Memoriam," four nights to history (Green's " History of England" forming the principal text book), while some evenings were devoted to the study of Biblical subjects. The Journal was fairly well sustained, and the " Ladies' Night" satisfactorily carried out. The report was received, after which a programme, illustrated by: limelight views, was gone through, and proved highly enjoyable. Gounod's "Nazareth" and "Ora pro nobis" were sung by Mr Matson,;" The village blacksmith" by Mr J. C. Stephens, and "Angels ever bright and fair" by Mrs Edgar. Mr J. C. Stephens gave a reading entitled " The Signal Box," and Miss Armstrong one entitled "The Fireman." Mr G. H. Marsden manipulated the limelight apparatus, and Mr Faulkner accompanied.

The exhibition of work and entertainment in St. Matthew's Schoolroom last month, to assist in clearing off the church debt, realised £25 10s clear of expenses.

Mr J. A. Johnson, who has been conducting the arithmetic class daring the session of the Technical Classes Association that has just eoucluded, was made the recipient last evening of a handsome writing desk from the student" «f his class. The presentation was made by Mr T. E. Downes, who said that the students had found in Mr Johnson not only a teacher but also a friend, and expressed their acknowledgment of the personal interest he had taken in their welfare and of the unstinted efforts he had neade to further their progress. Mr Johnson, in expressing thanks for the unexpected gift, assured the students that the interest they had shown in the class had always made his work among them a pleasure and a pride.

The farewell entertainment given by the Gourlay-Walton combination in the Garrison Hall last night, under the patronage of the Burns Club and the Dunedin Amateur Boating Club, drew a large audience, despite the strong counter attraction at the Princess Theatre. The programme presented upon the occasion was a varied and pleasing one, and appeared to be thoroughly enjoyed by those present. Mr Cfourlay and Miss Leighford sustained the principal parts in the opening comedietta in a most effective manner. As the Laird of Dumbiedykes Mr Gourlay was probably seen at his best, and received efficient support from Miss Alice Holbrook and Miss Leighford. Mr George Walton in his sketches was irresistibly amusing, his audience fairly screaming on several occa* sions at his comedy acting. Mr Chalmers in "A Domestic Tragedy" and THr Baxter in "Living Models" ably seconded Mr Walton. Miss Evelyn Haatie took part with Mr Gourlay iv a duet. Altogether the performance was excellent, and the large audience were sent away in high good humour.