The Observer.

Observer, Volume 3, Issue 63, 26 November 1881, Page 162

The Observer.

Top of Shobtlahd Sibbei.!

Saturday, Novembeb 26th, 1881

Some of the people who are loudest in their professions of regard for the success of Colonial industries have rather a left-handed fashion of giving practical expression to their views. Por instance, some time ago the Harbour Board required a crane, and called for tenders for one of local manufacture. By some peculiarly exceptional circumstances the successful tenderer happened not to patronise a certain leading financial institution. Eequiring certain appliances to complete his contract, he secured the assistance of another foundry, the proprietor of which, is a member of the Harbour Board ; but this coming to the ears of a third firm, they threatened to institute proceedings with a view to unseating the second iron-founder on the ground of his being interested in a contract let by the body of which he is a member. The consequence was that the job had to be sent home to an English firm. The specifications, however, had provided for a castiron jib, but the English manufacturers took upon themselves the responsibility of making it of wrought iron, at an additional cost. Thus, merely through a display of petty local jealousy, the work was sent out of the Colony. We do not wonder that local industries do not prosper.

One of the objections to Sir Greorge Grey as an ova tor is that his speeches are usually a repetition of a few leading political ideas, and that he docs not open tip new ground. " What is the general opinion of my speeches ?" Sir Greorge Grey once asked a reporter. The man of clots and dashes assumed a look of judicial gravity, and replied, " Well, Sir Greorge, the fact is the public seem to think that there is a little too much of repetition, sameness, d iteration as it were, ' tell - me-the-old-old-story-kind-of -thing'; you understand." With a good-humoured laugh, at this professional candour, Sir Greorge replied, "Ah, you Press-men are after all just as shallow and superficial as your readers. You cannot see that I pursue that course by design. The great mass of the people do not adopt an idea until by frequent repetition it has been instilled into their minds. Like O'Connell, I reiterate my views until they come back to me. That is the only way to educate the people. It is the constant dropping of water that wears away the hardest stone." The reporter's mind went off into a train of reflections, and amongst others he asked himself how many repetitions of the same idea in successive speeches would be sufficient to wear out the brain of an average journalist.

A ease of heartless and unprincipled imposition has come to our knowledge within the last fewdays. An aged widow named Cox, 75 years old, resides in Newton, and derives a very moderate income, hut sufficient for her frugal wants, from a few houses, the life interest in which was left to her by her late husband, the reversionary interest passing at her death to the Bible Society. One of her tenants was a commission agent

who has become rather notorious in connection with various transactions of a shady character. By rej>resenting to the old lady that his father, in England, would honour his draft, he induced her to lend him a sum of £50, which absorbed nearly the whole of her savings. The draft -was dishonoured on 2>resentation, accompanied by some severe comments on the son's general conduct and character for honesty. Since then he has treated every demand for repayment of the money, thus obtained by false pretences, with supreme contempt. He has practically nothing whatever in the shape of property, and the only remedy left to the old lady is to proceed against him criminally, which she shrinks from doing out of tenderness for his wife and family. Finally the rascal has left the house, leaving considerable arrears of rent. Another tenant so wrought upon the old woman's sympathies as to induce her to lend him £10, without his giving any written acknowledgment ; but when any demand is made for repayment iv whole or part he threatens to use violence to expel her from his door. This man has also left her house without paying the rent. It is just such instances of rascally imposition as these which harden the hearts of charitablydisposed people, and render them distrustful of the claims of real cases of hardship. We think the police should take these matters in hand, as tlie old woman, is friendless and without adyice.

The other day a representative of the OusEIIVEK desired to visit the Mount Eden Gaol with the object of letting the public into some of the secrets of the prison-house. Gaols are institutions in which members of the Press ought to manifest an active interest. In the present unsatisfactory condition of the law of libel they may at any time become occupants of a prisoner's cell at the instance of any person "who feels aggrieved by comments upon his acts, though those comments may be made in the interests of public morality and the Avell-bcing of society, tinder such circumstances the newspaper writer may be pardoned tor displaying some curiosity as to the interior economy of a , place which may some day become his temporary homo. It is just as well to be frank about these matters. If anyone is to blame for this feature in the character of the journalist it is the persons who make the laws. But to return to our muttons. An order of admittance was obtained from Mr Brookfield, R.M., according to the form that had been adopted in previous cases. The practice hitherto has been to obtain admittance upon the written order of a visiting Justice, the Resident Magistrate being one ex officlo. But on presenting the order to Mr O'Brien, governor of Mount Eden G-aol, the bearer was politely informed that admittance could not be granted upon it.

Further inquiry shewed that the old system Lad been superseded by a new ukase issued by Captain Hume, Inspector-General of Prisons. This gentleman is one of the expensive and doubtful benefits of the Togelian system. He was selected "with Dr Skao and some other proteges of Sir Julius, on the recommendation of certain influential persons in England who were solicitous about his welfare and anxious to see him comfortably settled in some snug and wellpaid sinecure. Previous experience of gaol discipline on any considerable scale was not reckoned a necessary qualification. Captain Hume was an army officer, and this was presumed to be sufficient of itself. It appeal's by reference to his reports on the gaols of the Colony that the captain is an enthusiastic believer in two theories as a means of effectually reforming criminals — the " silent system " and the birch. These lie regards as the most effectual means of degrading ilie self-respect of criminals, or, in other words, of depriving them of the most manly of all feelings and right motives, and reducing them practically to the level of wild beasts. The captain is indeed so confident in the general efficacy of the " silent system " that he would fain extend it to the Press ; and perhaps the severe comments of the newspapers on his own qualifications and the raison d'etre of his appointment have filled him with a desire to try the virtues of the birch as a further aid to the enforcement of his favourite reformatory regime. This is another striking illustration of the dangerous effects of a too enthusiastic adoption of pet hobbies and theories, learned in such fields of oriental despotism and semi-military govennnent as India.

Like the proverbial new broom, Captain Hume inaugurated his appointment by making a clean sweep of many points of gaol system which long experience of the criminal classes in these Colonies

had shown ' to ; bo best adapted to the circumstances. It mattered little that these rules had hitherto operated with the best results. The great object was innovation, and innovators as a rule are in favour of drastic changes. The would-be reformer is never troubled with reverence for established institutions. His first consideration is to root up and destroy anything that has been approved by his predecessors, and to substitute something or anything new. He also feels it incumbent upon him to make a show of activity and zeal in order to justify the choice of his patrons and the payment of his salary. Moreover, almost at the outset, Captain Hume's qualifications were critically examined and challenged by the Press, and it was urged with great truth that there were many tried and expei'ienced gaolors in the Colony who were far better qualified for the position than the pretentious protege of Sir Julius Yogel. From time to time, also, representatives of the Press secured admittance to the gaols on the orders of the visiting Justices, and the results of these visits were not complimentary to the Inspector - General. Consequently, in the same zealous spirit of reform and innovation, Captain Hume issued, amongst other exceedingly voluminous, imperative, and often puzzling instructions, an order abolishing the old system of obtaining admittance to the gaols of the Colony and substituting orders obtained from himself or from the Minister of Justice, which practically amounts to the same thing. This feature of the " silent system " is doubtless very satisfactory to its author, but unless the visiting Justices exhibit more activity in visiting the gaols and impartially exercising their functions as supervisors and correctors of abuses of authority, we doubt whether the plan will be equally satisfactory to the public in affording a sufficient guarantee that these institutions are efficiently managed, or that the punitive discipline is used as a means of restraint and reformation, rather than as an engine of tyranny and cruelty.

Of course, there is one dernier resort left to us. It is easy enough to imitate the example of " Thomas, the Vagabond," and achieve incarceration in Mount Eden Graol for a short period. It would be only necessary to assault a policeman or to smash a. -window to secure that end. Iso one who has any real desire to investigate prison discipline ever experiences any difficulty about accomplishing that object. But the great difficulty with most men who get into gaol is the getting out again. The most patient investigator soon begins to find it monotonous, and unromantic. It would, be all very well if one could get through it like Colonel Baker and other distinguished criminals, with champagne, cigars the latest novels, nil the luxuries of the season, and unrestricted intercourse with sympathetic friends ; but the romance of the thing soon wears off when one is reduced to subsistence on " skilly " and the occupation of geology or oakum-picking. Consequently we have no intention, for the present at least, of voluntary martyrdom in the pursuit of knowledge, and shall try other means of accomplishing our end.

A romantic elopement is reported from a certain up-country township. The daughter of a well-to-do cockatoo squatter had been clandestinely carrying on a courtship with a young bushmaii, whose wealth was almost limited to a pair of strong arms and an American axe. Paterfamilias being informed of the state of things by another suitor for the girl's hand, forbade the bushman to enter upon the premises, and suiTounded the house with a number of savage dogs. With some of these, however, the young man had been on terms of friendship, and he continued his visits. One evening the old griflin changed the position of the dogs, and the daring intruder suffered for his temerity by finding himself suddenly attacked and knocked down by a powerful mastiff, which proceeded with great ferocity to demolish his pants. "When the old man rushed upon the scene, armed with a gun, he found his daughter, armed with a heavy riding whip, engaged in beating off the dog. The lover made tracks across a ploughed field, leaving behind sundry souvenirs of his visit in the shape of tufts of hair and shreds of moleskin trousers. Xcxt day the old man missed his overco;it from its accustomed peg in the hall. The heroic girl, seeing the unfortunate plight of her lover, had carried out the coat under cover of the darkness in order to enable him to make a presentable appearance on his return to the mill. This was bad enough, but the sequel was worse. Next morning the old man missed the girl also. The pair had gone off to Auckland and got married. The great coat was, however, returned with the young man's compliments, accompanied by apiece of wedding cake.

It is about time the attention of the police was directed to the conduct of a certain publichouse in Albert-street (not fifty miles from the Star

Hotel), where Sunday-trading is being carried on in the most open and flagrant manner. We are not amongst those who object to a publican selling an occasional pint of beer on Sunday, but when it conies to a house being surrounded by a crowd of drunken and noisy larrikins, who use" the filthiest language, and make the afternoon hideous with their brawling and laughter, then it is time to protest. From what we can hear the police (we refer to the understrappers of course) are not quite impartial in this matter of Sunday -trading. There are some hotelkeepers who know, from bitter experience, that if they sell a single glass of ale they will be reported by the constable on duty ; whilst there are others again who positively do a larger business on Sunday than on any other day of the week, and yet never get interfered with. We know of two houses especially Avhicli are invariably full of customers on a Sunday. They appear to bo respectably conducted, and there would be no particular harm in it if other hotelkeepers were allowed similar latitude. Unless we arc making a mistake, Mr Thomson's idea is to be strict without being too strict, and it would bo well if the constables could be made to understand this. It is not fair to drop on one house perpetually, and leave another only fifty yards away alone.

There was a frightful sensation in one of the newspaper offices the other clay, but for some inscrutable reason the affair lias been suppressed. A pompous looking old gentleman entered the editorial sanctum, faced the Jove-like editor, and with a significant smile produced a portentous looking manuscript from his pocket. With that inbred courtesy which so distinguishes editors all the world over, the stranger was requested to take a seat in tlio vacant chair. The visitor, however, after the manner of a great many of the genus interviewers, kept on talking volubly as lie backed towards the seat, and had just got as far as, " Xow, with regard to Mr Hurst's prospects for Waitemata " — when the establishment was thrown into a state of consternation by an unearthly yell that rang through the building and brought a rush of printers' devils to the spot. All that was seen was two coat-tails streaming in the wind, and an old gentleman skipping down stairs like a flash of lightning. A copy file was found at the bottom of the stairs, and investigation showed that an absent-minded reporter had left it on the spare chair. Visitors to newspaper offices should take care where they sit down.

Burglomania is tlie newest development in Auckland. The panic that has been excited throughout the suburbs is most favourable for the perpetration of petty thefts. If one were to believe half the stories that are in circulation, there is hardly a house in the suburbs that has not, during the past "week or two, received a visit from these chevaliers cV indusin'e, and some timorous people imagine they see a Bill Sykcs in every man who goes about in a seedy coat and a shocking bad hat. Bulldogs, padlocks, revolvers, and life-preservers are at a premium, and it is becoming unsafe to approach the residence of a friend after dark. We are disposed to think that there is v spice of exaggeration, if not of fertile invention, about not a few of the stories that are current. The burglaries afford a ready excuse to people when they are inconveniently dunned for money. Amongst the numerous anecdotes we hear that a gentleman in Symonds-street was aroused by a suspicious noise in his dining-room. Seizing a tomahawk lie crept softly down stairs, and listened intently. In a few minutes he heard the sound of footsteps coming along the passage from the opposite direction, Raising the tomahawk over his head, he was about to deal a murderous blow at the approaching burglar, when the latter struck a match and revealed the well known features of a fellow lodger in the house. The second man had been aroused by the noise made by the first, and when the match was fortunately struck they were bent on each other's destruction. The tableau may bo better imagined than described. Further investigation showed that the-suspicious noises were caused by the cat. We shall not be surprised if, owing to the recklessness and freedom with which revolvers are being used, some tragedy takes place ei-e long.

The utter heartlessness with which some young girls are betrayed by unscrupulous and designing scoundrels is a disgrace to manhood. Many of the cases of seduction are concealed from public knowledge, and only the police, and others whose avocation brings them into contact "with various classes of the community become aware of the serious extent of this species of social vice. One of the latest instances is as follows : A young girl named Kate C, who came out recently as an immigrant, made the acquaintance of a fast young fellow, commonly known as Patsy, who induced

her to believe that he was possessed of money and property, and could provide her with a home. A marriage was arranged and they proceeded to the priest one morning to be made one in the usual orthodox form. The ceremony was, however, interrupted by a little difficulty. The bridegroom had left his purse on the grand piano and had not the wherewithal to pay the requisite fee. Accompanied by the young woman he went to get it, but on the way he proposed that they should jjroceed to Onelmnga and get married there. By dint of artful persuasion and protestations of affection he allayed her suspicions, and without going into details, it is only necessary to say that the marriage ceremony was performed in the Scotch fashion, without the rites of the church. Such Avaa the despicable meanness of the wretch that a sum o£ 12s, which the gh-1 had provided from her scanty wages in order to buy a wedding ring, was appropriated by him and spent. Next day the fellow went to Auckland, promising to return with money, but he has not since been seen. The unfortunate victim of misplaced confidence has gone to a situation in a certain hotel in Queenstreet.

Effusive gush, and religious zeal frequently go hand in hand. There is an affectionate familiarity and impressive tenderness about some goody-goody yoxmg men which is more than platonic. One sees it in its most pi*onounced form at soirees, -where " nods, and "winks, and wreathed smiles " loom out dimly through the prevailing haze of the steam from the tea-urns, and sierhs are exchanged between the sips from the cup that cheers, with soft pressings of hands in passing the bread and butter and cake. One notices the same tendency in the affectionate greetings at the church doors between the young folks of opposite sexes. The "'dear young men" of Mr 33rakinrig's brigade, who act as ushers at the Sunday evening services at the Theatre, exhibit this characteristic in a marked, degree. A young lady writes to say that they are in the habit of staring out of countenance the girls whom they show to seats, and are far too offensively familiar in placing their hands on ladies' shoulders, and rudely pushing them into their places. "In fine," say our fair correspondent, " were politeness and gentility indispensible to Christian, character, Mr Brackcnrig would do well to obtain a few Christians in place of these rude young men."