THE HOKITIKA DISTRICT GAOL

West Coast Times, Issue 267, 1 August 1866, Page 2

THE HOKITIKA DISTRICT GAOL

The site chosen for the district gaol being a somewhat out-of-the-way position on the top of the Cemetery' terrace, not many of the general public are aware of the works in progress there, or the improvements which have been lately effected In the provision at first made for the reception and safe custody of criminals. Much, however, yet remains to be done ere the gaol will be worthy of its name ; and we are glad to hear that the Government intend to complete the builcling according to the original plans, and that tenders for that purpose have been accepted.' At present, the buildings erected consist of one wing of the gaol, which contains eight cells, gaoler's cottage and office, and the warders' quarters. The latter is a two-roomed building-, with a lean-to attached, which serves as a cook-house for the prisoners. A stockade, which will enclose all these, is in tbe course of erection, and will he finished in about ten days or a fortnight. It is of substantial construction, the material chosen for the framework being undressed saplings from nine inches to a foot in diameter, and strong quartering eight or nine inches square. The frame, which i 3 already finished, will •be covere-1 with stout planking to a height of about eleven feet, and this again will be covered with galvanised iron, that will also cover the remaining four feet between the planking and the summit of the Stockade, which is fifteen feet from the ground. The space enclosed by the stockade is one hundred and thirty-two feet square, and in our | opinion a mistake has been made in 1 not making -it larger ; for when the remaining buildings arc erected, but little room will be left for the prisoners to take exercise in, and we believe it will be ultimately found necessary to enclose a further space outside for this purpose. Tha internal arrangements of the establishment are under the control of Mr Dale, the gaoler, who is assisted in carrying out the details by six warders. Our reporter paid a visit to the gaol yesterday, and was receive 1 very courteously by this officia l , who permitted him to inspect the cells, and explained the routine of duties daily practised. He states' that the cells are kept in excellent order,-.are perfectly clean and free from smell, and the prisoners expressed themselves satisfied with the treatment they received. With three exceptions all were in good health, and those, who complained were apparently suffering from colds only. At present there are 34 inmates, of which 28 are under sentence from the Supreme Court, the remaining six being debtors. The majority of the sentenced men are employed upon necessary works about the gaol — in levelling the enclosure, draining, gravelling, &c, and compared with the appearance of the place three months ago, the change" thus effected is astonishing. Then it was a mere morass, almost unapproachable, and only in part cleared from scrub, but now the ground is drained and a good pathway formed from the winding path v.p the side of the terrace to the stockade, and within it the enclosure is intersected with gravelled paths leading up to the different buildings. A path has also been constructed from the beach to the foot of the terrace, and we believe it is intended to form a roadway twenty feet wide, and also to widen the path up the terrace sufficiently to admit the passage of a dray. The latter work is much weeded, as the track is very narrow, and the terrace on one side falls sheer down into the creek: so that desperate criminals, when on their way up or down, might perhaps be tempted to throw themselves over, hoping, if they saved their necks, to escape into the thick undergrowth beneath. Moreover, it would improve the approach to the cemetery, which at present cannot be reached by wheeled vehicles. All the minor improvements have been effected under the superintendence of Mr Dale, who has displayed an earnest desire to make the place habitable, and to ameliorate as much as possible the condition of those who are committed to his charge ; and he has succeeded to a very great extent iv so doing. As we before stated, the gaol is to be finished out of hand, and we would, therefore, suggest that the first extension should consist of a mess room, as at present, lacking such accommodation, the prisoners are compelled to take their meals in the cells. This is a bad practice, and should be remedied at once. Better provision should be also made for the reception of debtors who, as it is, are confined under the same roof with men convicted of heinoir offences, although separate cells contain them.

An action which excited a^good deal of .interest and amusement amongst a crowded auditory, a largo number of the members of which belonged to tho theatrical profession, was tried at the District Court Melbourne the other day. The plaintiff was Mr C. Vincent, who sued Mr Hoskins, the theatrical manager, for the sum of L2O, being ono week's salary, alleged to be due to himself and his wife (Miss Cleveland) under an agreement securing the service of those two performers forsix months. Tho manager declined to pay the plaintifl's salary " because Miss Cleveland " had flatly refused to perferm the part of "vMargarot Catehpolo " in the play of that name. She considered the part as " indecent," and below the standard of those which ought to be assigned to a leading actress. It was admitted that she had frequently performed in male attire, including tho various dresses worn in tho part of " Satau " in " Satan in Paris ;" but then as " Margaret Catchpolo," she would have had to appear on the back of a horse as a groom — dressed iv a short jacket, top boots, and " unmentionables." This tho aefcross in question thought was carrying matters a " lectio " too far. It was necessary to draw a line somewhere, and she drew ife at — " unmoutionables." Tho plaintiff was non-euited upon the poiut that tho action ought, to havo been brought in the County Court, and hud to pay two guinea? costs.,