JONATHAN ROBEETS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7232, 19 October 1901, Page 7

JONATHAN ROBEETS.

-^— — « ilfE IN LYTTELTON GAOL [Copyright.] VTL "I savj did you have to work very hard VA Lyttelton?" ■ , „ "'D«>p Lytteltotn-; I <ion't- like that well ■enough, to -talk about it." "- "Never mind what you like, I -want to kno.w what they d*"Uiere. What sort of woi'k had v-ou to do?" ■ •- "Well, if :7oa. must know,' I was navvying tih© mtetr of the -time I was there. . "How did you get en?" "I dcoVt get on at aH at first. Irom eeven until twelve and "one till five was just t» little too much for me. I used -to go back more dead than alive. But I dropped down -to it. after a bit." • "Was 'the work hai'd?*' ."Yes, rather. We Ivivd so much to do, Bfid when t!hat was done we could knock off, bub I always had' bad mates and nevei 'tad much spars tiane." . . "Do they let you pick your own. mates?" •'V No. that is th©^ worst of it. A good man has to work with a duffer, and' so on. It is a-sham&, but it to » good kicking against it. althcugh I Avas very nearly once or twice. What beat me, was that in the quarry, Jack, Joe and Tom could work together and talk as. much as they liksd, but inflde, where visitors might come*, they weren't allowed to"' look at one another. And, moreover,, %neri who had no right to 'be with criminals were put to work with the very worst!" . "What sort would they be?" . "Well, men who were sentenced for wife desertion, disobeying a maintenance order, «nd drunkenness. Don't you think it a» .gin and shame to imprison or 1" :• a man for being drunk? Wliereis the tin in getting drank? Is it in drinking . the stuff or in wasting money? If it is for drinking, the Government ought to stop ih~ importation of the drink. If it is for wasting- his money, they mnks him watte a. little mere to make it right, cind fine him so much or send him '"to gnol. When I saw what that titled gentleman; who is such an advocate for temperance; ii\ in. Auckland, I thought what an awful farce some of our laws are. . Tw\> men go to a. hotel. One drinks ten glasses, and is so drunk he can't walk straight,, and goes staggering along the street, and is "run in." The other drinks twelve glasses, but it doesn'tnp6et him, and nothing is -said. Therefore^ because the first oan't drink as much, as tbe- second without losing -his balance he is. fined or imprisoned, and the other gets off. Men ai-e downright fools. . They know they are wasting -money and losing their heads by drinking;; and yet they will do it. Irft me give you. my little csperiecce of drinking. I was training for some sports. , .Beer is better to train on than witter, so I -must Iva^e be«v for limc-h. If I gas very thirsty it must be a glass of bar; if anyone "shouted" ci- I. "shouted, "l had beer. At the end of the month-— I .was b<xtrding- at a. "pub" — when , I come to lorrk : at. the bill I saw. I had! 52s to pay for drinks in addition to board, btsides wfiat I had spent' at other places. I couldn't ;st-3 : nd. this,, so gave it up. It took me all my time to do" it, but the cost . was the. deciding, point. On another; occasion I sfaited to drink brandy as a . medicine, and thut grew upon me in.thA came way as beer. At another tims I bought a dozen <;f claret, to strengthen ray blood. At first I kited it, hut before the dozen . were " finished I could tip eff a tumblerful and enjoy it. As the doz^n had disappeared sooner than I bargained; for I decided not to get any ."..more cf tiafe ; Then I started on tea. and if ever I wanted j a drink I went to a.re!reshment-room and; had a cup. I now began to find I had'th^[ same hankering after: tea? that I had ror:. the others, but on ij cup, or at most t^vo, would suffice, "and although ( I could never get anyone to come and have a cup of" tea I don't -t-hink I ever missed my after-; noon cup afterwards. And for those, whjpi must have a " pick-vie-up" or "sdmetKi^gl to keep the cold but, -> let t-htm go "to. Buggy's, and in a week <-a* two they /will \ not want liquor, and will find tea as rev '■. 'frerhmg and cheering as the much-lov r e&t wliisky. I say Buggy's, ' bacau&e " I hav^j never yet had a bad ? cup there. It . is^ al- j ways fresh and good. ,Cio|cd and bad tea { ore* quite different^hings." ,'V" ! , "Weil!"; Nellies said, " that's what I call; a real overflow. I thought you were never' going to stop. B.ut don't think you a'ra going to change my" subject so soon. What sort of 'food do they give you at [Lyttelton V •" Oh, bother Lyttelton !" ; ■•■• '',' "WelU Come, on! Tell me.* : . "Well, it is so "good that you have to do • without for a. bit before you can- face it, b,ut 'before "you" have been ibsre long you think! 4t mighty good, . but scarce." "What is it? .Bread, 1 suppose, meat . tK»d potatoes and — — r" •"• "You can stop at the and... You get JbreaJ tor breaklasb, and bread for tea, half pound pf meat and one pound potatoes for dinner; And there it ends;" , "Don't ymi get. tea?" -,-:.'■■-. ■ - "Yes, suwhas it is, pne pint morning an-l evening." I.iuppose I ought to have ?:-iid soup,- too, i>ul the soup is only the water, ■tfiat the meat is boiled, in, so'is'nt cf mu:-h---account..". . .-..,. " ■" What" time did you have to get up?" , ."Half-past, five ior eight months in the. year^ arid -half rpast si: the other f pur." : " But .what, do they get up so early for?*. , "It take§ about an aout to dress, wash, Btraighten-up and hays breakfast. Then .you have to be at work balf an hour after- . wards." . . "And what time do tl.ey go to bed?" "Eight, o'clock. Look here, .you want to. know too much." "Never mind. Are there ray. nice young fellows there Y\ ' , "Ob, yes! If you can call them 'nice in such a y place. I liked them-vtry well." . " But gentlemen, I mean, bank clerks, end so on Ditl-yoti see s™—?"':-._,5 ™— ?" ':-._, "Yes! Bank clerks 1 ggnfldiaen, ; doctors, farmers, tinkers, 'taiildrs, soldiers, sailors, shoehiakei's, lawyers,' policemen, and every kind of man you can see outside you are pretty sure to ' see in there, down to Chinamen, even." .'•'..* "What do they all do?" " Pit«h stones ' about, navvying, shoemaking, tailoring, printing, cooking, etc." "Wihat did you do? Oh, you said you were Quarrying most of the time, but why didn't they. give you something easier to di>?" '.'•""■■"■' v Because I played tie fool afc' first, end got the whole box and dice down on me, from the gaoler downwards." "Well, you shouldn't piny the fool. Docs the time pass quickly?" "No ! It is nothing to look backvpon, but a month seems an awful time to ] ook forward to. When I first went there I thought- the days .-would never ikiss, and wasn't I glad when Sundays came, so that I could have a rest. There is another of their rules that I could never see any sensin. That is, on Saturdays. Although you'vo been at work for five hours in ihe morning, they keep you walking round and round a small ring for three hours in the afternoon, while some get their hair cut nvA bathe. It is enough to turn one's brain. If a man- attempts to sit down, he^ is minted off again, just like some- knocked-up animal driven cm a road. You can imagine what it would be like on a hot summer" s day." "Was it true about Hall saving that idarky from drowning?" " Yes, quite true." " What was it, or how was it?* " The darky had stripped off to clean t/he boat, and when they were going to take it away, he went out with them a bit to ha.ye W'sAvim back, *ut he got funky, or frightened, and went under. Hall happened to be nearest and saw him, so w^nt in and brought him out, and what do you think . Hie got for it?" -.--'■' ' ' 1 "1 don't know.." •■"• ."'©i«y ran him 'before a magistrate and he was severely reprimanded." " Good gracious 1 What for?" " For doing as he would, be done taV'

" What a shame." " Yes, wasn't it." " Go on, tell us something more.' "What- shall I tell you?" "Anything. Did you go to church." " Yes ! Twice on Sundays, such as it is." "Why such as it is?" "Well, they send the -wrong men there. Half the fellows play " tip it," during the &ermon." "What's "tip it.'" "It is something after the style of pggs in the bush. You have one button, aiid some two .or three fellows play other two or 'three. One side guesses which hand of the others contains 'the button. If they don't .guess right it scores one against them. If they do they take the button, and the others guess." ■"What babies." \ "That's nothing; they do some astonishing things down tlure. * They play Yankee ■grab, draughts and all ports of things." "Where- dra they get' their draughts?" "Make them out of corks." '" Aiid the dice?" "Gut them oiidof sdap sncl ink the spots in. You'd be astonished at what necessity will make a man do. Do you know some of the fellows have little razors and shave themselves once a week ; others have knives, pencils and all sorts of things. If they were found out they'd drop, in for it, but* they take good care never to be found out. I'll give you an instance of what they'll d™ for one another to bains the warders. Half-aidozen fellows were throwing the dice, and I had a piece of lead pencil keeping the score. I didn't see one of the principal warders coming round, so when, he got up to me he said, ' Give me that pencil.'" - : I looked up .in surprise, but before I could do anything the man sitting '.next to me snatched it out of my hand and -popped his hands 'under 'the table. In an instant a dozen pair of. hands ware under the table, and that pencil wefit from one tothe other, and eventually 'came -back to me fr_oni a fellow who 'had not been sitting at our tabl* at all. The" -warder could do nothing, so walked on, and we went on with the throwing. •"But how can men keep razors without being found out?" v They are not razors, but simply the steel cut of a woman's corsets sharpened. They pick up the Vteel when they take the dust arid rubbish out, and get. som© of the fellows ' who have* the means to sharpen it." ' "How do they manage for a lookingglass?"' ". ' . ■' " Polish up-the bottonT,of their tin waterpot. Sometimes one shaves another." "I suppose you hear some strange tales down there?" „' :--.-' • "Rather. I'd tell you some, but they are scarcely fit for ladies' ears. And for

i crime, you have no idea -what takes place in this 'little New Zealand. Do you kuow what one fellow told me?" "Well?-' . | "He was asking how much mnney the j baaks kept at" such places as Temuka and Akaroa. and concluded by saying that ha. had been inside the Tenvuka. Bank every night, for three weeks running. Of course, I wouldn't believe it, but when he took a stick anil drew on the ground a plan of the bank agent's room and lavatory, and tnld me where certain things were kept, I i had t» believe it. Such a thing as that Is a mere nothing to what some can do. Ju?t fancy a man getting out of his cell with nothing but a tin, kv.ife, fork and ?r. r.n in it. besides the ,stoo.' he sat upon, ■and yet he <lid. He sinrpJy 'hacked' the door to pieces. J-re was a minst nrtausivisr fellow, too. Us had had the •bottom" prut of his legs frost-bittsaj, -which necessitated amputation at the knw, so he ran alioui on his stumps. Often we wine ehocred by fniM of his songs. He had a, -capital fal.-etto voice. You heard about that follow .Shine newly getting out after me. Well, if ire had hten square ks- would have ha-d the same chance, but he had served one prisoner shabbily, and now no one trusts him. I'll tell, you the story. He and some others, were* put to clean out <a workshop in W-el- i lingtcn. They were putting the shavings and rubbish in a- sack, then wheeled it t<r> a bank and tipped it down over. One W tih-a others said be would like to get a, «fcn»ce to clear, when Paddy says, ' Get into this sack, and I'll tip you over tlis . batik.' 'Wiil you, really'? 'Yes, really.' The man get in,- Paddy put .seme shavings in top cf him and started off. The Governor of the gaol and Chief Waiter had corns •nit to have a look round, so Paddy wheeled ,he man up to them «nd < said to tha Gaoler, 'I've got a man in here.' He was alwuys a-n eccentric- fellow and peculiar to deal with, so the Gaoler merely said. 'That'll do, Shine; go on with your work.' 'No,' says Paddy; 'bub I have.' 'Go on with y-otir wcrk, Shine,"' was the re- . ply. 'I tell you I've got a. man in her&; shall I tip him over the bank?' 'Yes, tip him over, Paddy.' ' No, that won't do ; I'll show -him to you, then you'll know I'm speaking the truth.' So, ea.psiziing the wheelbarrow, he took hold ef tha bottom end of the bag and- shook the fellow out. For doing thiiThe got twelve months taken off his sentence, and the other man got three months put onto his." " What a shame. I don't wonder at their not trusting him- now. I wouldn't. But isn't it strange #iat noiVe of Ihe others didn't clear after you?" "Well, it was this way. I was afraid ■ to tell many that I intended having another run for it, and when I was gone, i^oss ■who saw ma go were ''afraid to, in case the alarm would be given, and the chance was not taken advantage of." " Haven't you any mere tales you can tell?" "I oa,n hardly remember them now. but '■ t3iere is one rather good. In tihe Jubilee •year i<r was' generally thought tli-at the prisoners would receive some benefit" in the -way of remission of sentence, and one cf the Warders asked a Maori what 'he would do if the Jubilee Jet him off. ' I'd go straight lroine to 'Eng-1-a-nd and hug thr blessed Queen ' says tho The same Maori wouldn't e«<t Ibis food when ho was first sentenced, and they had an awful job with him, but he came round all rigßt until one of the warders chaffed lum it, ! vrhen he picked- up tli* warder and pitched ham head first into a big baith." " Well, go on " " No, I 'can't think of anything more. I think as little of that place as 1 possibly can. But look here, I must get over that hill." "You are safest there certainly, so go back by all means. Are you likely to come in again?" "No, thanks. It's too much of a good thing." "Which way are you going? because I'll go a part of the way with you." , "By Jove, you're a brick if you will. I had better go over the Madras Street railway bridge, and then I can turn into Colombo Street anywhere." " You've 1 a jolly good nerve to come here atall. What possessed you to?" "The dumps. If I was closer I'd come in /nearly every week. iNo one knows me from anyone else." " No,b at- mgiht they wouldn't ; but you must be careful. You surely can kesp quiet for a week or two." "I don'fc know that I can. You shut, yourself- up for a week and' 'don't even look at a human bsing, and sea- what you think 51 it. Heaven only knows what mteerv I iiave gone through "the hist--. eight or nine months. ' However, I hope it will be over soon." By-and-bye, we hud reacted the bottom, of Colombo N ,Street. Nellie wouldn't think of going back foefpre. ., I felt quite . sorry to part with her, she had been so kind and; '-feeling, besides having such a : light heart, that I felt a talk with her. now and again, would cheer me too. When I shook hands with lier I couldn't lielp -saying: "Will you gave me a kiss, Nellie?" . ...... "I'd give you a sla.p on the face, if you were anybody else but what you are." . "Well, lam glad . l am myself for once, but I thought as you'd been so nice you might win<| .up properly." . , " You'dl make, a fool, of yourself if anybody would let you," was her ready answer. licit a bit "huffy over the slap in the face remark, but this "fool" business capped'£t. "All right," I said, "good night,'* and turned away. And I should have felt a downright fool if she had let me;, but, taking. hold of the sleeve of my coat she said, "I didn't mean to speak unkindly to you, but that sort of thin,; always vexes me. To think a, i girl can't speak to a fellow without being slobbered. I am going to give you a little advice-. When you get away don't think every girl you meet is bad, and try and pick up one that isn't. One that will care- for you for yourself, and look after you". From what I've seen of you to-night I can tell you only want looking after to make you a good, steady man. I'll think of you often, and if you like to drop me a few lines when j ou get to a place of safety, I will be glad to answer it, and tell you any little news that j I think may please you. Think well of girls for your sisters' sake." And putting her hand up to my shoulder she drew me down and kissed me, saying, "Don't get down-hearted, but stick to hard work for a little until you can make a home for some good girl." Then putting her hand into her pocket she took out a> small silk handkerchief and put it into mine, adding, " Keep that in remembrance of one honest girl you picked up in the street, and don't bave , anything to do with any others. Goodbye," and kissing me again, she turned towards Chrisichurch. And what did I do. I w-erofc on for a, - little till I came to tha-t lot ,of bluegum.s just at the commencement of the ascent, put my swag down, .sa>t on it and commenced to clear my throat. This was the second time the goud-hcartedness of a working girl had brought out my better naturo, and shamed me. Why can't all women treat a man as if he had a heart, and appeal to that, instead of defying and daring him. I felt very small that night as I went jp the hill, and yet my thoughts were pkasant. The recollection of that serious, kind, sweet face a-s she looked at me when she uttered her parting words, lingered in my memory for a long time. I don't- remember anything on the road, but trudged along, feeling that my good resolution for the future would be very easily adhered to if I could drop across such a girl as that. I wonder if I shall meet with many food attractions, or will " the snares of tliis'world and the temptations thereof," lead me to live the same useless life I have j left behind me. " God forbid," js all I can say now. (To bn continued.)

A return billiard and card match between Ihe Canterbury Athletic and Cycling Gluo and the Union Cycling Club was played at tho Union Club's rooms on lliursday niclit The Canterbury Club scored a double win— at. hillianls by 453 W 410, and ut euchre by 2A to 18. '