West Coast Times. MONDAY, APRIL 23, 1866.

West Coast Times, Issue 185, 23 April 1866, Page 2

West Coast Times. MONDAY, APRIL 23, 1866.

Last night no less than Sixty-three unfortunate prisoners were shut up, to go through the weary and suffering hours of an unusually close and oppressive night as best they could, in the Holritika public goal. This is tho largest number that has ever beon in confinemont hero at one time, and it may be expected that each day's committals from the Resident Magistrate's Court will continously add to the number. Do the people whose good luck it is to be out of goal, form any adequate conception of what is involved in the imprisonment of so many persons within so circumscribed a space? Wo are satisfied they do not ; for tho shocking inhumanity of the thing could never be endured for so long a time, by any Christian community to whoso mind a sense of tho excessive cruelty perpetrated was once brought home. The Goal consists of six cells of the height cf eight feet, and comprises a total superficial area of five hundred and sixty square feet. In other words each one of the present sixty-three prisoners, when standing, enjoys a space of less than a square yard, and when lying at night, this same amount of floor, distributed as his own ingenuity and the consent of his fellow captives may arrange. A strip of dirty floor, say seven feet in length and two or throe inches over a single foot in width, is granted him for his blanket and his limbs, On cold nights it is conceivable that a degree of miserablo comfort is derived from the density with which theso prisoners are crowded together, literally overlapping eaoh other. But God help tho unfortunates who have to pass through many such nights as the one at whose close we are writing these linos. What imagination is lively enough J to picture the filth, the foetid atmosphere, and the thousand accessories of horror, that must belong to such nights in such dens V Medical authorities tell us that every strong man enclosed in a room, requires four cubic feet of fresh air each minute for the due performance of the functions of life ; and that, by the natural expiration from tho lungs, and the exhalations from his skin, he vitiates or renders poisonous a hundred and thirty cubic inches of air every minute. Where there is an insufficient supply of fresh air constantly entering the chamber, and an insufficient system of ventflfttion, tho re-absprption of flio vitiated

air is certain to produce the most pestiferous diseases. In the Hokitika cells not only is the volume of air allowed to each prisoner utterly inadequate to sustain tho animal system in a state of health— even if it were constantly supplied from the pure air without—but there is almost literally no ventilating apparatus, There are no flues in these dons ; nothing but a series of small holes perforated below tho roof; and tho tloors, which are left a little open during tho day, are hermetically sealed at night. Ventilation is impossible, except under two conditions — first, tho free ingress of air from below ; and second, the free exit of it above. Wo repeat, that the whole story we have so often told, and which has now reached its climax, is infinitely disgraceful to a Government having any pretensions to humanity, to say nothing of Christian principle. But, apart from its cruelty, there is another view of the case the public ought to take. What may be the consequences here of the outbreak of the, pestilence of which tho authorities aro doing their very best to sow and water tho seeds? The spread of " poisonous disease" amongst a dense population is, what medical writers tell us, a euro fruit of the conditions under which we aro crowding together our prisoners. The Provincial Government are responsible for the state of things which has been so long perpetuated in the face of every form of protest. The Superintendent has, hroughout, had the power of proclaiming any building within tho district to be a public gaol ; and there aro plenty of apartments in the costly public buildings that have lately been erected that might have been pressed into tho service of humanity. Wo call upon Mr Sale at once to take somo steps to abate this gross 'scandal: or, if he shrinks from tho responsibility of acting on his own authority, to telegraph to Christchurch for instructions without a moment's further delay. It is not to be wondered at, that an Indignation Meeting of the citizens has been convened to take this matter in hand, and put away from Hokitika the stigma that has rested upon it, of tamely acquiescing in an evil that would bo a shame to any community of Englishmen. Let the meeting to be held this afternoon take high ground, and insist on the instant adoption of measures for the suppression of the present Gaol system. Tho case will not bo met by the promise by tho Commissioner of a tardy correspondence with Christchurch. The evil is a pressing one, and the remedy must be prompt.

On Saturday night, tho dramatic company introduced by Mr Bartlott from Sydney niado their " debut" in Hokitika, and receivod quite an ovation from a crowded and dolighted audionco. Excepting on tho occasion of tho benefit for Mr Greonfield'B family, we never bow tho houeo so closely pnoked, the stalls and pit especially being filled to overflowing, so nuioh bo Wood that many had to bo rofused admittance. Wo congratulate Mr Bartlott that his call has boon so well responded to, and that tho porfortnanoo of the now troupo exceeded the anticipations indulged in by oven thoso who most bolicvcd in his assertions of its ofllcienoy* It lias so ofton boon announcod by inanugors and proprietors that " a first-class dramatic company had boon engaged," and tho public have nearly so beon deceived, that tho belief was not only entorlainod, but expressed, that tho Wostland community woro doomod to suffer another of these disappointments. Tho performance of Saturday night must, however, convinco tho most sceptical that Mr Bartlett has thoroughly rodoomod his word, and tbat tho company introdttcod by him aro woll worthy of all tho oulogiums whioh heralded thoir advent. Tho pieces cast for tho opening night woro, that charming comedy, " Tho Honeymoon," and tho farce of " His Last Logs." In tho first, tho priucipal characters — thoso of tho Duko and Julia~woro well sustained by Mr Lionol Harding and Mrs Oharloa Poolo, whilst that of Eolando foil to tho lot of Mr Bartlett. Wo certainly folt somo surprise at tho manner in which Mr Harding acquitted himsolf, never having given him credit for tho powora ho ovidontly possesses, whilst Mrs Foole, as sho always does, played her part to porfootion. It is almost unnecessary on our part to oulogiso this lady, hor fame having been so well established in Australia ,• onsuring hor a hoarty reception whorovor she appeal's boforo an audionco ablo to appreciate hor 5 and wo cannot but hail with pleasure hor arrival amongst us. Wo always bolievod Mr Bartlett to bo a gentleman possessing no mean powers as a'coracdian, and as Rolando ho confirmed thoso impressions. His make-up and acting woro perfect, and his byo-play oxcollont 5 and wo think tho character ono of thoie he is peculiarly fitted to assume. Miss Rosa Cooper, as Zaraora, played tho lovesmitten maiden 'to advantago ; and Mrs Crosby did wonders in a part whioh can hardly bo considered as coming within hor role ; from tho specimen sho gave us of hor powors, wo feel certain sho will becomo an immenso favorite with tho play-going portion of this community. Throughout tho piece, tho dialogue was woll and smoothly kept up, and it was ovident that all had carefully studied their parts. Ija " His Last Logs," the seedy, impudont, devil-may-care O'Callaghan was most ably represented by Mr William Andrews. Wo havo hoard this gontlonian, as a low comedian, highly oxtollod, and feol much pleasuro in according him our tributo of praise ; and without drawing any comparison botweon himself and ono who, noxt to Powor, was con« sidored to bo most at homo in tho part, wo may safely affirm that there are fow actors in tho colonies who could havo sustained it so woll. As will be seen by a roforonoo to our advertising columns, tho eamo performance will bo repeated to-night, and wo havo no doubt that tho houso will bo as well attended ns on Saturday,