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Western Star, Issue 31, 13 June 1874, Page 6

"VYe gleam from the Ofayo Daily Time* the following particulars in regard to the prisoner Morrison, who has been dubbed the “Romancer of Crime.” Mr. Bathgate, he remarks, had at the Female Refuge meeting, in referring to Morrison, said “ the moment he gets out of gaol he begins n new career of crime.” The real fact, of the ease was that Morrison was discharged from Dunedin Gaol at the latter end of July or beginning of August, 1873. The Gaol Chaplain and Gaol authorities behaved most considerately to him. Instead of being turned helplessly adrift from the Gaol, without clothes, money, or employment, to'quickly And his way back again, he was provided with two good suits of clothes—a holiday suit and a working suit —money suflieient for bis wants was given to him. and a situation as a painter, with good wages, was, through the assistance of well-wishers, got for him. Subsequently, being a skilled man, a sit uation as draughtsman wps got fpp him m architects

o fllce. It is thus evident that it was not wrnt or »iv conduct on the part of the public towards him that caused hjm to niftke tv relapse into crime, He was receiving good wages, and getting on in ft satisfactory manner, to the relief of those who were solicitous for his welfare, when the ouG break took place. It was not force of eircunw stances that urged him on to act as ho did ; and our correspondent agrees with Mr. Bathgate, that with him crime amounted to a kind of disease. lie learned the trade of a painter while confined in Dunedin Gaol, so that he preferred honest ways, he had two strings to his bow—ho had that trade as well as his business of ft draughtsman for his means of livelihood. The Good Templars in Auckland have been exceedingly active, and struck many off the Electoral Roll who are opposed to them, while putting on all the friends they could gather. They hare a Special Committee appointed for this purpose, and the Committee have done their work in a way sure' to tell at the next elections.