THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam aut faciam." [Established November 13, 1861.] DUNEDIN, MONDAY, MAY 28, 1866.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23202, 28 May 1937, Page 2

THE Otago Daily Times. " Inveniam viam aut faciam." [Established November 13, 1861.] DUNEDIN, MONDAY, MAY 28, 1866.

SEVENTY-ONE YEARS AGO

From time to time, instances occur pointing to the necessity for some provision for dealing with juvenile criminals. Not only here, but in England the difficulty is felt of assigning punishment to them, calculated to repress a tendency to crime without the risk of inducing utter demoralisation. It is only a few sessions ago that an unusual number of young prisoners were tried, when the judge feelingly commented upon the danger of condemning them to penal servitude, in companionship with those who were old and hardened in guilt.' Many times since then the Magistrates have expressed unwillingness to expose mere children to the pollution of fellowship with felons; and when compelled, through the necessity of the case, to pass sentence upon them, they have expressed a wish that some provision was made by which the danger of utter ruin might be avoided. It is unfortunately true that in England and the Colonies there is a criminal class, apart from those who occasionally lapse into crime from the respectable ranks of society. They are born criminals, educated criminals, and obtain a livelihood by criminal practices. Recent investigations into their habits of thought and training disclose that they do not live nor think nor reason as others. With a vocabulary of their own, they have also their own code of honor, and their own peculiar notions of their relationship to society. . . . The difficulty of the task of reformation must be evident. ... In

Great Britain and Ireland these ends are sought to be attained by instituting reformatories apart from prisons, and subjecting the young to careful training there. . . . The example of our native country has shown what ought to be done, and it is alike the interest and the duty of the Province and the Colony to make the necessary provision.

The "Nelson Examiner" says:— "The stag and two hinds, turned out on the hills between the Waimea road and Brook street, nearly four years ago, are thriving admirably, and have increased to thirteen. The imported stag was found dead at Bartlett's Valley, up the Matai, about two years ago, and the animal that has taken its place with the herd, is the firstborn of one of the hinds, dropped a short time after they were liberated, and will be four years old next spring. . . ."

The second batch of Maori prisoners were landed at Waitangi (Chatham Islands) on the 27th ultimo, and, according to the report of the Captain of the St. Kilda, were received with the same warmth by the resident natives as the first lot were. Of these last a correspondent of the "Hawke's Bay Herald" says—" The Hau-Haus, since their arrival, have been actively engaged building whares for the accommodation of the guard stationed here —while, at the same time, the European and native guard were erecting a redoubt, which, though has been occupied for the last ten days. On Wednesday, the 25th ult., the ceremony of erecting a flagstaff took place, and on hoisting the Union Jack a salute was fired, when three hearty cheers were given for Her Most Gracious Majesty. Among the spectators the most conspicuous were Captain Thomas, R.M., and family, the Messrs Hunt, of Pitt's Island, Mr Ritchie. Mr and Mrs Auckland, Mr and Mrs Marshall and family, and several influential gentlemen. After the ceremony had taken place, they adjourned to have a gam" of cricket."