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Waikato Times, Volume I, Issue 3, 7 May 1872, Page 2

A most afffectiia.g , scene night have been* witnessed on the Queen-street Wharf about four o'clock on Friday afternoon, when thegood ship Bella Mary cast offher moorings,, previous to taking , her final departure for Hobart Town. Standing at the gangway, andl bathed in tearp r which fell in hot scalding drops into the briny deep, was a lbne old* woman, taking a last farewell of " her own, her native land," and from which she appeared to have a natural disinclination to be separated.. Indeed so stroog was her inclination to retnru. to these sunny shores, that it was considered necessary by the authorities to provide her with a guard of honor in the shape of two s-talwart policemen, who had received strict injunctions to see that her affection for theprisons of Auckland, did noli lead her to> "make tracks"" ashore again. Mrs Hargreaves —for that is Uae lady's name—wasone of the most persistent and' indefatigablethieves in Auckland, and her son, deeply sensible of the many kindnesses which his motherhad received at Mount Eden from the gaol. authorities offered to pay her-passage to Tasmania if the authorities would let her go ;: and to give the good people of that beautiful country a chance to test her abilities. What they will say we know not, bui; it appears to be an extraordinary means of getting: rid of" our crimina? population. We should not begreatly surprised if the B©bartownites,after having experienced, a few specimens of herpicking and. stealing propensities, were topack her back again, fcb> us.. Nor could wegreatly blame them- for , so doing, even although, we understand, the industrious old lady sprang from Hobartown—" New Zealand! Herald."