AUSTRALIAN CABLE.

Timaru Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 1834, 8 August 1895, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN CABLE.

Per Electric Telegraph—Copyright,

Per Press Association

AUSTRALIAN GAOLS.

Sydney. August 6.

Mr Abigail has commenced a series of articles on prison reform. In the first, he states that the chief cause of the disappointing results of a reformatory character m gaols is the want of a proper system of classification. Another important cause is that, with some exceptions, it is easily seen when you meet a number of warders that the system is manned by the least fitted class of men for such work. He does not say that all are unfit for the service, but the majority set themselves the work of degrading those over whom they are placed. Mr Abigail believes that m most of the cases he inquired into he found their actions are the result of ignorance as to how to firmly carry out their duty and yet treat men as men and

not as many do now, treat them worse than dogs.

A DRUNKEN ENGINE-DRIVER Melbourne, August 7,

Great consternation was felt among the passengers by the express train from Adelaide to Melbourne on Friday owing to the jolting of the train. Several passengers were thrown out of their seats, and sustained cuts nnd bruises. The luggage m the guard's van was thrown out of the racks. The enginedriver, who was mad with drink, was the cause. At Nhill he began to tamper with the engine, sending it full speed ahead. The fireman, seeing that the driver was hurling the train on to destruction, endeavoured to overpower him, and a desperate struggle ensued on the engine. The fireman managed to stun the man, and pulled the train up. The guard took the fireman's place, and the latter acted as driver for the rest of the journey.

FEDERATION.

Hobart, AugUßt7.

The Premier has given notice to introduce a Federation Enabling Bill.