AUCKLAND RAGGED SCHOOL.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1693, 21 January 1862, Page 3

AUCKLAND RAGGED SCHOOL.

(From the Southern Cross, 31st December) An entertainment in connection with the Auckland Ragged School was given at the Odd Fellow's Hali, on Friday evening last. The atten dance was very large, the hall being overcrowded.

The proceedings were consecrated by prayer, offered by the Rev, T. Buddie.

Mr. Black moved that Mr. T. Macfarlane do take the chair, which was carried by acclamation.

Mr. T. Macfa.rla.nk having taken the chair, addiessed the meeting on the subject which had brought them together. * He said that when he left the capital of North Britain, with its overcrowded population, ill paid labour, intemperance, poverty, and crime, he was under the ira pression that he was coming to a land where labour was well paid and in demand, and that consequently there would be an abundance of the actual necessaries of life, if not of its comforts and luxuries. He did nut expect to find children in Auckland whose parents were unable to educate them, nor any instances of thatsqua* lid poverty and abject misery which harrowed

the soul when one penetrated into . the abodes of want at home. But he was not here lonjsr until ho became convinced that the Britain of the South had already contracted many of the home vicei, aud that if Je/t unchecked those vices would ripen into crime, and sap the foundations of society. He soon -found out that while every industrious man could readily find employment, every thirtieth house was a tippling shop. (Hear.) The effect of such a state of things might readily be imagined. _The large earnings that ought to have gone towards pioviding for the wants of families, or securing an independence in the case of single men, in too many instances were inducements to drink; and thus the affection of the husband was burnt out of his bosom by the infatuated love of ardent spirits. He had visited the hovels of many of these miserably degraded wretches, where he saw the effect of this kind of life — there where little ones deserted by their inhuman parents, left to starve or fall into crime ; forced, in fact, to steal that they might partake of the comforts of a common jail. (Hear.) Knowing that the police records 'would unfold a tale of woe, he sought their excellent commissioner, Mr. Naugb« ton, who kindly supplied him with a list of destitute children, which contained about sixty names. He would not venture to give names, but would read particulars of a few cases. He then read the following: — Two boys aged 10 and 7 years respectively, slept in an empty bouse West Queen-street, live on charity; the "father in jail, the mother is a woman of evil habits and does not look after them Second case — a family of four children, two girls, aged 17 and 4, aud two boys, 11 and 6 .years respectively ; supported by the mother ; the father is in jail for larcenj ; the mother drinks ; the eldest girl is an idiot ; the children are neglected, do not attend school, and are often accused of stealing firewood and palings. Third case— a family of three, two girls and a boy, aged 9, 7, and 4 years respectively ; the father is a drunkard ; the eldest girl is often found sleeping at ni^ht in the streets, and bf day begs: tiie children do not atteud school. Fourth case — a Imy aged 6 years, supported by his mother; his father is iv jail for larcency ; attends no school ; does uoihing but collect bottles. Fifth case — a boy aged 6 years,supported by his mother. His father is a dissipated character; and his mother has been twice con* victed of keeping a house of the vilest description. When he (the Chairman) discovered the state of the case he at once made up. his mind as to what was to be done. He sought for kindred spirits, and happily he had no difficulty in finding those who were* ready to help in the good work ; aud now he thanked God that he was able to announce there was relief at hand for the poor perishing outcasts of Auckland. Before long a suitable school would be erected, into which they could receive such children as their parents were unable to educate ; and Goi helping them, these children would not leave the school until they were able to maintain themselves in after life. The institution they were about to found would have the patronage of the Governor, and he believed also of all the good men of the land; and be trusted it would likewise receive the support of every parent in the city who loved his own children, and while he saw bis little ones well- fed, clothed, and educated, thought also on those little ones who, without any fault of their own were denied the comforts of home, the kind smile of a father and the tender care of a mother. (Hear.) The Chairman then referred to two visits be had paid to the Sunday school. On. the occasion of his first visit, the children were in an uproarious state ; but on his second visit two weeks ago, he found them much more set* tied, evidencing the care that bad been bestowed upon them by their teachers. The mode of in* struction was not mnoh suited to. a Sunday school, as the teachers were engaged learning the children to read. This was most necessary, but when the ragged school was begun on the broad basis he.,had.anno.unced, all that labour would be taken off their hands, and they could then devote their energies to the religious training of the young. (Hear.) The Sunday and week day schools could then work together harmoniously ; and in course of time perhaps accommodation could be given in the ragged school building for the Sunday school. . The chairman then intimated that there would be a birection for the ragged school, and that they would ask the assistance of the ladies in visiting the school, to se that the children were kept clean and properly cared for, and that their food was well cooked, and served up iv a becoming manner. By these means the poor outcast children would receive not merely mental instruction, but would be trained in habits of order, cleanliness and propriety of demeanour, so as to be as well fitted to take a stand in life as tbecbildreu of parents who did their duty as Christians and good citizens. He was sure the ladies of Auckland wuuld heartily join in this good work; while those who desired' to avoid taxation and prevent the growth of crime, should willingly subscribe their means to enable every case of neglect and distress to be relieved. (Hear.) Mr. Black then gave an account of the origin of the Auckland ragged (Sunday) school, and the trouble the originators experienced insetting it going. Their labours had been comparatively successful, however. A few months ago they commenced with ten children as pupils, who were taught their letters, and spelling: now they had about sixty children receiving instruction from seven teachers, two of whom are ladies.

Mr. Joseph Newman next delivered an in* teresting address on ragged schools generally He detailed his impressions of several ragged schools in London which he had visited during bis residence in England, and spoke of the great good that had resulted from the extension in the United Kingdom of the system of instruction and reclamation combined in ragged schols. Mr. Newman also read extracts from the Eev. Dr. Guthrie's wovks, reciting that eminent dirine's testimony to the great blessings to - society and individuals that had resulted from the operation of ragged schools, and concluded with an earnest appeal to the public of Auckland to support the. ragged day and Sunday schools. This concluded the serious business of the evening ; and the lights having been extinguished, there was an exhibition of the Magic lantern. Several Christmas carols were also sung with good taste. Votes of thanks were then conveyed to the lecturers, singers, and the chairman. • , - :■? Mr* T. Maofablane remarked in reply, that V the best acknowledgment they could give him was to come forward heartily in support of ; the / , ragged school. The national anthem was then; : sung ; after which th? Rev. T. Hamer pn*- r nouuced the apostolic benediction, and the proceedings terminated* ./ „ r

{■should the progress of civilisation lead to the settlement of the interior, we fear many a byegone tragedy will be revealed, many a terrible history disclosed. We have been accustomed to hear the interior spoken of as a place where nafootot white man has ever trodden ; but alas; there is no saying how many a djreadfnl pilgrim age has yet to be brought to light. ; no spying how many a veuturesom eexplorer has g.me forth unknown, and has perished unheaded. Mr. MmEejilay's discoveries are very extraordinary, the Australian Government to aid in thesiarcb aftei poor Burke, the Victorian explorer, Mr. McKenley discovers in the interior European graves. He opens those graves. He finds human remains, the remains of white men. He and his party discover numerous in- / dications of the white man's former presence in j these solitudes. Tin utensils, Eley cartridges, portions of a nautical almanac, fragments of ( weaiiug apparel, horsehair, and other relics. Who constituted this party? Who equipped j them ? When where they sent out ? How came they by their dea h ? Did any escape? How is it that nothing was ever heard of them until Mr. McKenlay dug up their boues and collected the sad relic?, of their encampment?. Had they no friends: was no one cognisant of their departure ; did no one look for their return, or miss them, or mourn for them ? Such are some of the questions that naturally occur in connection with the startling discoveries of Mr. McKenlay and bis companions. But some of these questions are already answered. The remains of the white men were found in the neighbourhood of Cooper's Creek, though at some distance therefrom, and it was of course perfectly natural that Mr. McKenlay should af once decide that the remains were those of Burke and hi& fellow-travellers. Hence the discovery — though mournful — would not appear to Mr. McKenlay so mysterious, so astounding, as it does to us, who know that the relics could not be those of Burkes party; Mr. Howitt .having rescued King and discovered the bodies of Burke and Wills under totally different circumstances from those characterising the remains discovered by Mr. McKenlay. There must, therefore, have been another exploring party ; a party of whose movements perhaps no one has ever heard, but the fact of whose journeyings Mr. McKenlay has thus strangely brought to light. Surely there will be means of unravelling this mystery ?

Jt is very extraordinary that Mr. McKeolay should have discovered what he considers to be the dung of camels in the vicinity of the Euro peans' graves ; but Mr. Hodgkinson, second in command, corroborates the statement — the latter gentlemen beiup, indeed, even more emphatic than Mr, McKenlav. We shall presently give so much of Mr. Hodgkinson diary as relates to the finding of the graves which he, in common with Mr. McKenlay, declares positively to be the resting places of Burkes party. It will be seen in the narrative that Mr. Hodgkinson, who was personally acquainted with the members of the Burke expedition, states his reason for deciding that the skeletons found in the principal grave was that of 'King.' We need not inform our readers that King was discovered by Mr. Howitt, alive, and protected by friendly natives at Cooper's Creek. Jt is this extraordinary mistake as to the identity of the remains which invests the whole story with its most peculiar interest.

Mr. M'Kinlay, however, did more than discover the remains of Europeans. He collected indubitable proof that these Europeans bad been massacred. The natives of the districconfessed to the murder of the party, and aci knowledged that they had feasted on the remains of their victims. Nor had this tragical result been attained without a strupgle. The poor fellows had evidently sold their lives dearly, and Mr. M'Kinlay examined the person of one native who confessed to having taken a p irt in the attack, aud who still carried buck shots in his body, visible through the skin, besides ex. bibiting bullet wounds.

The following is from M'Kinlay 's diary, giving an account of the discovery of the murdered travellers :

October 20.---Reached lake Kadhi-bion. Found plenty of water. Watered the horses (the camels some distance behind, quite unable to keep up) and at ouce proceeded northward along the side of a large beautifully timbered, grassed, and clovered swamp or creek, about one and a half miles across, to ascertain the faot as to the presence of a European dead or alive, and there found a grave lately formed by the natives evidently not one of themselves, sufficient pains not having been taken — and from other appearances at once set it down as the grave of a white man, be whom he may —and returned to tue lake to await the coming of the camels, which was not till about 5 p.m. Determined in the morning to have the grave opened and ascertain its contents. Whilst I went to the top of sandhills looking round me, Mr. Hodgkinsou strayed a short distance to some old deserted native hut a short distance off, and by-and -bye returned bearing with him an . bid flattened pint pot, no marks upon it — further evidence that it was a white, and felt convinced that the grave we saw was that of a white man. Plenty of clover and grasses. Whole distance travelled about 38 miles. Kept watch as usual (but did not intend doing so), but just as we were retiring a fire suddenly struck up, and we thought some of the natives had followed us, or some others had come to the lake— rather a strange matter aftei dark. It soon after disappeared, which made us more certain still that it was natives. Intend spelling the camels for a few days to recruit them ; one on anival was «ompletely done up, and none of the others looking very sprightly.

October 21. —Up in good lime. Before startins for the grave went round the lake, taking Mr. Hodgkinson with me, to see if natives were on the lake, as I did not intend saddling the camels to-day if there were no natives here, intending to leave our camp unprotected— rather unwise, hut being so short of hands could not help it, the grave being much- out of sight. Found no natives round the lake, nor any very recent traces, saving that some of the trees were still burning that they (when here last) had lighted. We started at once for the taking a canteen of water with us and all ihe arms. On arriving removed the earth carefully and close to the top of the ground frund the body of a European enveloped in a flannel shirt with short sleeves— a piece of the breast of which I have taken,— the flesh I may say, completely cleared from the bones, and" very little hair but what must have been decomposed; what little there was I have taken. Discription of body?— Sk-ill marked with slight sabre cuts, apparently two in number— one immediately o?er the left eye, the other on the right temple, inclining over right ear, more deep the left; decayed teeth existed in both sides of lower jaw aud right of upper ; the other teeth were eutire and sound. In the lower jaw there were two teeth — one on each side (four between in front) rather projecting, as is sometimes called in the upper jaw 'buck teeth.' I have measured the bones of the thigh and leg, as well as v the arm, with a cord, not having any other method of doing it; gathered all the bones together and

buried them again, cutting a lot of boughs and other wood, and pulling over top of the earth.* Body lies head south* feet north, lying 1 on face, head severed from body. On a small tree immediately south we marked • M.K., Oct. 21. 61.' Immediately this was over, we questioned the native further on the subject of his death. He saifl he was killed by the stroke from what the natives call a sword (an instrument of semi-cir-cular form, five to eight feet long, and very formidable). He showers where .the whites had been in camp when 'attacked. We saw Ittfs of Gsh bones, but no nvider.ee there on the trees to suppose whites had been there. They had certainly chosen a very had camp in the centre of a box scrub, with native huts between 150 to 200 yards of them. On further examination, we found the duug of camels or horses, evidently tied up a long time ago. Between that and the grave we found another grave, evidently dug with a spade or shovel, and a lot of human hair of two colors that had become decomposed iv the skin of the skull and fallen off in flukes some of which I have also taken. I fancy they must all have been murdered here. Dug out the grave with a stick, the only instrument we had, but found no remains of bodies, save one little bone. The black accounted for this in this manner — he says they had eaten them. Found in an old fireplace, immediately adjoining, what appeared to be bones very well burned, but not in any quantity. In and about the last named grtve, a piece of light blue tweed and fragments of paper, and small pieces of a nautical almanac, were found, and an exploded Eley's cartridge ; no appearance on any of the trees of bullet marks, as if a struggle had taken place. On a further examination of the black's camp where the pint pot was found ! there was also found a tin cinteen similar to what is used for keeping naptha in or some such stuff, both of which we keep. The native say-! Uh.it any memos. of the whites are back on the last camp we were at on the lake with the natives, as well as the ironwork of saddles &c, which on our return we mean to endearour to recover, if the blacks cm be found. It muy be rash, but there is necessity for it. Intend before returning to have a further search.

"October 22— Breakfasted, and are just about to get on our horses to have a further search, wlien the natives made tbeimppearnnce within half a mile of us, making for some of their old huts. Immediately on observing us made of at full speed. Mounted the horses and soon overtook one fellow in much fenr. In the pursuit the black fellow with us was thrown from his horse. The horse followed and came up with us just as we pulled the frightened fellow up. Immediately after our fellow came up, mounted his horse, ami requested us at once to shoot the savage, as he knew him to be one of the murderers of the men or party; but we declined, thinking we might beable to glean something of the others from him. On taking him back from where we caught him to the camp, he brought us to a camp (old)- of the natives, and there dug up a quantity of baked horsehair for saddle stuffing, He says everything of the saddlery was burned, the iron-work kept, and the other bodies eaten — a sad end of the poor fellows. He states that there is a pistol N.E. of us at the creek, which I have gent him to letch, and a rifle or gun at the lake we last passed, which with the other articles we will endeavor to recover. Exceedingly hot, windy, and looks as if it would rain. The native describes the country from south to north east of us being destitute of water or creeks. I have marked a tree here on the north side ' MX, October 22, 61 ; west side dig one foot,' where I will bury a memo, in case any one should see my tracks that they may know the fate of the party we -ire in search of. There are tens of thousands of lhe«flock pigeon here ; in fact, since we came north of Lake Torrens they have been very numerous, and at the same time very wary. Mr. Hodgkinson has been successful in killing as many of them as we can use, mixed with a little "bacon. Before the native went to fetch the pistol he displayed on his body, both before and behind, the marks of ball and shot wounds now quite healed. The ball inside of left knee so disabled him that he had to be carried (as he states) for some considerable time. He has also the mark of a pistol bullet on right collarbone, and on hibreast a number of shot, some now in the flesh, but healed. His family, consisting of four lubras and two boys, remained close to our camp awaiting his return, which he said (from pointing to the sun) would be ten or eleven o'clock next day. When called at twenty minutes to eleven p.m. to take my watch I bad not been on duty more than ten minutes when I observed a signal fire in the direction he had gone, about six miles distant, and wondered he did uot make his appearance ; but all was quiet for the rest of the night, excepting that at intervals the fire was replenished. " October 23, 4 a.m.— Justas wewere getting up, not very clear yet, headed by the fellow I yesterday sent for the pistol, a party of about forty, came, bearing toiches, shields, &c, &c, shouting and kicking up a great noise, and evidently endeavoring to surround us. I immediately ordered them back, also telling the native that was with me to tell them that if they did not keep back I would fire upon them, which they one and all disregarded. Some were then within .a few paces of us, the others at various other distances. I requested Hodgskinson and Middleton to be ready at their arms and fire when desired, seeing nothing 1 else left but to be butchered ourselves. I £aye the word • Fire.' A few of the closest retired a few paces, and were being encouraged on to the attack when we repeated our fire, and until several rounds were fired into them (and no doubt many felt the effects) they did not wholly retire. lam afraid the ( messenger,' the greatest vagabond of the lot, escaped scatheless. They then took to the lake, and a few ran round the western side of it southward, whom we favored witb a few dropping shots to show the danger they were in by the distance the rifles would carry on the water. They then cleared off, and we finished with them. I then buried the memo, for any. person that might happen to follow my footsteps, at the same time informing them to beware of the natives, as we had in self defence to fire upon them. I have no doubt from the manner they came up, that they at. once considered us an easy prey ; but I fancy they miscalculated , and I hope it may prove a useful lesson to them in future. Got breakfast ready and over without further molestation.