MAORI PRISONERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 931, 2 October 1869, Page 9

MAORI PRISONERS.

To the Editor of the Otaoo Witness. ThoGovemmentbave decided upon making a peial seitlemont here forthereoeption of a couple ot hundred of tho vilest of the black savages — the Poverty Bay murderers, and tho liko. Wo are left to conjecture that they will bo taken obargo of in Dunodin, for where out of Dunedin ccnld they bo placed ? Now, this measure of tho Government is calculated to awakon strong foelings of dissatisfaction and alarm, inasmuch as the Dunedin Gaol is not adequate for their confinement, nor is tho staff of oflicora connoo ed with it equal to suoh an additional ohargo. Wo havo already Garrett, Frataon, Sullivan, and one or two othor raoro dnngorout obarao* ton than any ■euro of ordinary prisoners. And, apart from tho question of oxpenso, I think it is, undor tho ciroumitanoes, a flagrant injustioo to inflict opon u» a largo number of lawless robols of tho moot dangerous typo, who may oeizo tho first chanoo to repeat tho Chatham Island exploit ovor again. Whilo it is our duty to aid in relieving tho Government of a nuisonablo ahwro of tho prisoners, it is only fair to us that wo should havo timely notioo of their coming that wo may mako arrangements for them. If this bo not first attended to, tho ooniequencos to society may bo appalling, and it may bo, when it is too late, that wo shall find this one. Experienoo has domonstratod that tho Maori savage Is tho bitterest foo wo, as a colony, aro oallod upon to contend with, and a body of thorn will require the greatest re•traints to ooafloo them. In (aot, whether their presence among as should, or should not reasonably oauso alarm, tho publio mind will be quite unhinged if a fooling of insecurity should bo allowed to oxUt, and that oan only be prevented by doing what has not yet been done, providing tome stronghold as a ptaoe o£ imprisonment, with a proper staff of oflioers, below tt» prisoners a/c toot bert, ftothißf

short of this: will* satisfy: public anxiety, and be a guarantee of our, security. Why should not a penal settlement be/ fitted up upon one or other of the two Quarantine Islands? No situation in the looality could be more . suitable, and both islands are not required for .quarantine purposes. The extent of surrounding sea would beaproteotionwhiohcouldnotbehadonland— anatural bulwark, superior to any wall, which would proportionably diminish the expense of the superintending staff. Although noi far off, if the prisoners were located even there, it would be a satisfaction to, us to have got them out of our very midst. It would also be morel profitable to the Government to provide work for them, to be done in their place of imprisonment, than to allow them to serve upon the roads ; the number of warders always increases with the risk, and to let such a body of native rebel prisoners out here and there in gaops into the centre of society, would be » most hazardous thing. The risk would be out, of all proportion to the value of their, services. The public should at once do either one of two things, either conoert measures by call' ing a monster meeting to try and prevent these desperadoes being sent here at aIL or, if they must come, cause efficient steps to be taken for their safe keeping before they are allowed to set foot in Dunedin.— l am, &0., Aliquis.