ANOTHER GAOL SCANDAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1253, 16 October 1884, Page 3

ANOTHER GAOL SCANDAL.

Last year an enquiry was held by Captain Hume (Inspector of Prisons), and the Hon. Mr Richardson and Mr Potts (Justices of the Peace), into some alleged irregularities by the gaoler at Lyttelton, Mr Phillips. At the conclusion of the inquiry the Ministers thought it would be sufficient to reprimand Phillips, and this was done, but the Justices of the Peace being of opinion that he should have been dismissed, resigned. Mr Montgomery in the House of Representatives moved that the details of the enquiry should be laid on the table of the House, and this was done on Tuesday. The following is an extract from a letter written by Captain Hume to Phillips giving a summary of the charges and the decision arrived at by the Government

“ I am instructed by the Minister of Justice to inform you that Ministers have perused and considered all the evidence taken at Lyttelton as to the various irregularities alleged to have been committed by you while Gaoler there, and also your explanation thereof, the several matters being as follows :—(1) That you disposed of a number of books and copy books, the property of Government, With respect to this it appears to be clear that what was alleged to have been done did actually take place, but it is also clear that the books had been condemned as useless for the purposes of the public schools, and that little blame could be attached to you for neglecting to preserve t hem, but I am to inform you that it was undoubtedly irregular and improper to dispose of them as you did, and likely to give rise to suspicion, especially when no record was made by you of the fact. There appears, however, to have been no concealment about these matters, and no profit accruing to yourself. 2. That you had a table and two wardrobes made of Government materials by prison labor for your private use. lam to say that this is admitted by you, except that you say that you considered them to be Government property. Since the Government have never furnished quarters for gaolers, you must have been well aware that you were doing that which you had no right to do, in having these articles made, and especially in afterwards treating some of them as your own property by removing them to Dunedin. It appears, however, that no secret was made of the manufacture or of the removal of these articles, and that at least some of the Ministers were aware of the facts. This does not, however, justify the irregularity. 3. That you have on several occasions had clothes and boots made by prison workmen, soma part of the trimmings being taken from stores. lam to say that this charge appears to be proved, although you do not admit the latter part of it. It is perhaps a small matter, and there appears to have been no concealment about it, but it was decidedly wrong. 4. That you caused some flannel shirts to be made in your home for the prison use, which were charged for by the contractor as if made by him. I am to state that there appears to be have been some irregularity about this transaction, but you assert, and it is not disproved, that you derived no benefit from it, and that it took place when the articles were urgently required. It would have been wiser to have kept clear of a somewhat suspicious transaction. That you misappropriated certain Government stores, namely, a piece cf swansdown, braid, etc. I have to say that all charges are very vague, and do not lequire further inquiry. Ministers accept your positive denial that any misappropriation took place. In conclusion lam directed to inform you that the conclusion arrived at by the Ministers,is that, although none of the above-mentioned irregularities appeared to have been occasioned by any dishonest intention, they were all decidedly improper. Ministers therefore, though highly disapproving of your conduct, think reprimand sufficient. You are hereby reprimanded accordingly.”