The Irish "Asiatics" - "the importation of certificated scum"

A few years ago now, when I was exploring the content of "Papers Past" and discovering what a massive and magnificent resource it is, I came upon a report of a Dunedin court session.  The reaction of those in the public gallery, of "loud laughter," in response to hearing a certain ship's name, intrigued me.  As can be imagined, a search through millions of newspaper stories featuring the word "Asia" took a little while.  But it was worth it.

The Asia, a magnificent ship of 1445 tons registered, arrived at Port Chalmers on Monday morning. She accomplished the voyage in 78 days, and brings 467 passengers.  -Tuapeka Times, 29/4/1874.

"Single women...total 244"

THE IMMIGRANTS.

The immigrants by the Asia were conveyed to town by the noon train to-day — the authorities, on finding there was no illness of any kind on board, determining to send them to their destination at once. They are an extremely healthy-looking lot, and refer in high terms to the captain of the ship, his officers, and the doctor. They will be offered for engagement at once, thirty applications having already been received at the Immigration Office.

We are indebted to Mr Colin Allan for the following list of their trades, occupations, nationalities, &c. One navvy, 34 farm laborers, 61 general laborers, 7 ploughmen, 1 miner, 10 carpenters, 3 joiners, 1 cooper, 2 edge-tool makers, 2 blacksmiths, 1 tinplate worker, 1 mechanic, 4 shepherds, 2 grooms, 5 shoemakers, 1 bookbinder, 1 glover, 2 bricklayers, 3 bakers, 1 skinner, 2 butchers, 1 fireman, 1 cook, 1 painter, 1 miller, 2 tailors, 1 mason. Single women; 72 general servants, 4 laundry-maids, 7 housemaids, 2 cooks, 2 needle-maids, 1 tailoress, 1 milliner, 3 dairymaids; total, 244. 

Nationalities: Irish, 264; English 72; Scotch, 6; Welsh, 2 ; French, 1; Russian, I. 

Summary: Adults (male), 166; ditto female, 165; children (male), 54; ditto (female), 65; infants, 16. Total, 466 souls, equal to 3904 statute adults.  -Evening Star, 28/4/1874.

The Caversham Immigration Barracks - seperate wings for men, women and married couples/families.  Hocken Library photo.

"certified scum" and "can-can dancers"

We have it on the very best authority, that of the female immigrants just arrived by the Asia, thirty-three of them were selected from the Queenstown Reformatory. Immigration is a most necessary thing for the benefit of the Colony, but the importation of certificated scum is anything but desirable. This is not the first or second time we have had to draw attention to the utter recklessness and indiscretion shown in selecting immigrants, but doubtless this will be explained away in the same manner as were the cases of the French can-can dancers and the Melbourne actors. As a rule, immorality and crime breed quite fast enough in a town, without granting free passages to import the double-distilled article. Even the local Irish papers do not appear to think that some of the Asia's females are a good lot, if the following extract from the Tipperary Advocate of February 7th, is true:— "Yesterday 200 young females embarked on board the clipper ship Asia, at Queenstown, to sail for New Zealand. They are receiving passages by the New Zealand Government, and 100 of them came from the Cork Workhouse. This system of emigration may seem to the guardians a very simple and effective manner of relieving the rates, but they ought to consider whether it is judicious to hold out so strong an inducement to idle people to enter the Workhouse as the prospect of being sent out to a prosperous colony." It is only fair to assume that respectable able-bodied young women, such as we expect will be sent by the agents do not, now-a-days, when domestic servants are in great demand at home, become inmates of Workhouses. -Otago Daily Times, 30/4/1874.

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT, PORT CHALMERS.

Thursday, April 30. Before Capt. Thomson, Drs Drysdale and O’Donoghue, J.P.s.) Theft. —James Quin was charged with stealing one whip, the properly of Donald McCrae.

— Donald McCrae said he was in the employ of Mr Larnach as groom. On Tuesday evening he came down with a buggy to the Port, and left the whip (produced), with other articles, in the buggy outside the hotel. At about ten p.m. he missed the whip. — Sergeant Neil deposed that, when he arrested the prisoner on board the ship Asia, prisoner said he found the whip at the railway.—The Bench dismissed the case, blaming the prosecutor for leaving articles about so carelessly.  -Evening Star, 30/4/1874.

The Asia brought four London prize fighters, one of whom broke his leg, and one got into gaol. -Lake Wakatip Mail, 1/5/1874.

Wednesday, April 29th,

Drunkenness. —James Brown was brought before the Court as a habitual drunkard. He was discharged with a caution. Edward Mordy, an immigrant by the Asia, was lined 5s, or 48 hours' imprisonment. William Murphy, another of the Asia's passengers, was fined in a similar amount.  -Otago Daily Times, 1/5/1874.

"The drink got in me, and I suppose I got muddled."

Resident Magistrate's Court

Drunkenness.—Mary Sweeney, an immigrant by the Asia, who stated that she was a single girl, twenty years of age, and had got a glass “too much,” was discharged with a caution; James Smith was fined 5s, or 48 hours. —Patrick Coull was charged with being drunk at the Immigration Barracks on the previous day. —Defendant: I was drunk, I suppose. His Worship: What were you doing there? — Defendant: God Almighty knows, for I don’t. -His Worship: You don’t! -Defendant: And, faith, I don’t. (Laughter.) The drink got in me, and I suppose I got muddled. He further stated that he was a seaman discharged from the Asia. —His Worship said that if he got drunk he could not expect to find steady employment. Defendant: I’ll take care I don't tumble into the clutches of your police force again, (Laughter ) —He was then fined 5s, with the option of forty-eight hours’ imprisonment.—Defendant; Good heavens! I have not got the money. I’ll need to take it out. (Loud laughter.) — He was then removed from the dock.  -Evening Star, 2/5/1874.

Mary Sweeney died of consumption inApril the next year. She is buried in Dunedin's Southern Cemetery.

"drunk and grossly misconducting herself"

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Saturday, May 2nd. (Before J. Bathgate, Esq., R.M.)

An Intruder: — Henry Swales, a middleaged seaman, belonging to the Asia's crew, was charged on the information of Constable Shirley, with refusing to quit the Caversham Immigration Barracks when ordered to do so by the officer in charge, contrary to the Town and Country Police Ordinance. Charles Duke, barrack-master, having continued prosecutor's statement of the arrest and truth of the information, added that on Friday evening he heard a female screaming in the court. Proceeding there with the Matron, he found one of the single women lying drunk and grossly misconducting herself. He observed that it was the same person who had caused a disturbance whilst drunk in the single female quarters on the previous day, when accused, who was taking an interest in her, exclaimed that witness's statement was a deliberate falsehood. He also used some sneering remarks about Government officers being easily put out of their billets. Witness was a little wroth, and told prisoner he had no business there, and had better clear out, as he had been cautioned two days previously for going in among the single girls. He then passed himself off as one of the Trevelyan's crew. Prisoner expressed penitence for his conduct, and whilst regretting what had occurred, promised that his behaviour should be more becoming in future.

Mr Bathgate enquired of the Barrackmaster whether there was free exit and entrance for any one to the buildings, and if there was not a lodge where application should be made for admission. Mr Duke said he allowed no one to enter except those who had orders, or went on business. The Magistrate considered that more rigid discipline should be exercised, as the public had no right to go to the place; and whilst prisoner had been guilty of a serious charge, he would be leniently dealt with on account of being a stranger. A fine of 20s was inflicted; in default, six days' imprisonment. 

A Woman of ill-fame. — Alexandria Ferrier, a dissipated looking creature, in answer to a charge of having no lawful means of support, said she worked at her trade — needlework. Constable Rooney had known prisoner, in his official capacity, for two years. She was a low prostitute, walked about the streets after midnight, accosted passers by with evil remarks, and she occasionally slept under houses. She lived a disreputable life, and had been previously convicted for vagrancy. Accused was remanded till Monday. 

A Tasmanian Importation. — Elisabeth Conell, an elderly woman, pleaded guilty to having, on the 30th April, stolen a blanket from the Union Hotel, Stafford street, valued at 30s. Sub-Inspector Mallard said she was a most impudent thief, and had been going about the city of late, pilfering everywhere Although she only arrived in Dunedin from Tasmania in September last, several convictions were recorded against her, chiefly for larceny. The Court sentenced her to six months' imprisonment, with hard labour. 

Inebriates. — James Walsh pleaded guilty to having been drunk in the Octagon, and was fined 5s, with the option of 48 hours' imprisonment. Mary Sweeney, a young woman who appeared thoroughly tamed in the dock, admitted being drunk and disorderly at the Immigration Barracks on the previous evening. His Worship delivered a lecture upon the impropriety of her misbehaviour, and discharged her with a caution. 

Jack Ashore. — Patrick Gould, one of the Asia's crew, created much amusement by his cool demeanour whilst in the dock. He supposed he must have been drunk at the Immigration Barracks, and when asked by Mr Bathgate what took him there, he replied, "God Almighty knows; I don't know." He had been discharged, and was knocking round. He was fined 5s, but chose to serve out the alternative, as he did not possess the money. James Smith, a young fellow dressed in the togs of a midshipman, was also charged with being drunk in the same place as last prisoner, and was fined in a similar amount, which he could not muster, and accepted the alternative of 48 hours' imprisonment, 

Obscene Language. — John Thomson was charged under the Vagrant Act, with making use of indecent language in Maclaggan street. The offence, it appeared, was committed in the heat of passion, prisoner getting excited at some prostitutes annoying him. He was discharged with a caution.  -Otago Daily Times, 4/5/1874.

"breaking out in drunkenness"
If the males and females from the Immigration Barracks who have since their arrival interviewed our R. M. are fair samples of the Asia's consignment, we trow that they would have been more beneficial to the Colony had they kept away from it. Three months' abstinence is scarcely a plea for women breaking out in drunkenness and revolting conduct.  -Otago Daily Times, 5/5/1874.


The majority of the Asia's immigrants have been engaged, the only ones having any difficulty being the married couples. Many complaints have been made about Mrs Howard's consignment.   -Otago Daily Times, 7/5/1874.

"the prospect of Irish immigration is not favorably viewed here"

NOTES OF A TRIP FROM THE WAKATIP TO DUNEDIN-N0.3.

Dunedin, 30th April. I must make a leap, and for the present reserve my views and impressions of Invercargill for a later part of these notes, and likewise some account of a short sea voyage. Travelling takes up so much time, and there are so very few opportunities for writing, that however anxious a correspondent may be to redeem a promise, and acquit himself "manfully," he finds circumstances quite against him. He bows reluctantly — that is, if he is animated with the same spirit of zeal as the writer of these notes — to stubborn things and practical facts. Therefore am I obliged to take up my parable in Dunedin, and deal with an entirely new class of matters. For instance, I shall have to eschew any description of this city or Port Chalmers, and a good many other matters provided in my note-book, and plunge at once, media rea, into Immigration, Murder, and Politics, leaving out all reference to love and scandal.

Port Chalmers Harbor is quite crowded with immigrant ships. The Asia is a fine large vessel, and brought out a very mixed class of immigrants, but a superior class to late importations. The Irish girls reflect credit upon Mrs Howard, and bachelors should be very thankful to this lady's efforts. Comments have been made upon the character, or rather the class, these girls were taken from. The remarks that they came from out of a reformatory may be true enough, but I hardly think that Mrs Howard, nee Alpenny, with her Dunedin experience would send us unsuitable immigrants. The truth is, that the prospect of Irish immigration is not favorably viewed here, and this may tend to color statements. However, I vouch for no particulars of this kind, and cannot, therefore, say whether the statement is true or false.

I am only sorry, for the gold miners, living too often in their lonely huts, cold and forlorn — in heart at least — that they could not see what I did. The immigrants were quite jolly, and the 200 females really looked, on the whole, more than passable for new chums. There was no mistake about the "lime-juice" element; but there was also a freshness, a healthy briskness apparent, and they cheered the ship, and cheered when they got into Dunedin, and did many other things like a lot of new chums, who don't understand the meaning of the words "being Colonial." The men are generally small and stunted, and show more evidence of a hard life, and many of a precarious town existence. The former in faded garments; the latter in an attempt at imitating the prevailing fashions of the day in a cheap "bell-topper," for instance, of the four-and-six penny style, whatever that means. I am only quoting a remark I heard. The Irish girls were wanting in the flashy, flimsy, style of dress of the city or factory girls from London. Their attire was more homely, though they seemed ashamed of the contrast; but we old chums, looking on, rather approved it. But, I suppose, ere long these newly introduced daughters of Eve will repent them of the abnegation forced upon them, and indulge in the opposite extreme, and revel in the dreams that must fill their minds as they witness how Colonial "servant-galism" adorns and decorates itself in Dunedin City. The women pick up the style sooner than the men, who are very uncouth and strangelooking for some months. Some of the new chum girls of three months standing are pointed out to me from the window of my hotel, and they look bright, cheery and gay. The change has been a happy one to them evidently. They do not wear the sad, anxious look of some I saw in Invercargill, or of many of the Asia's passengers. They have quickly found out the benefit of the change and a full diet, as the mounting color of their cheeks testify. Enough, however, under this head, in this letter at least I shall have again and again to refer to the subject, for I have a good many notes about it.   -Lake Wakatip Mail, 8/5/1874.



"Agents, see to it."

PASSING NOTES

Did 33 of the female immigrants by the Asia hail from the Reformatory at Queenstown, or did they not? It doesn't seem quite correct to say there is no Reformatory at Cork as a triumphant proof that the tale is untrue. Officers and passengers declare that the ship did lie off Queenstown Harbour, and that then and there 33 girls were shipped from the Reformatory. Of course if there is none, the girls were ghosts, and couldn't have wanted rations. Agents, see to it. If they were on board, and were from the Reformatory, it seems a pity to say they were not. Possibly in the meantime some simple-minded employer of female labour has been taken in, and has hired the wrong article. Whether the Reformatory girls were the culprits or not, the conduct of the Asia's immigrants since they landed has been simply disgraceful. From the drunken swarms of ruffians round the hotel opposite the Barracks to the other end of the city, the place has been full of the worst-looking lot of new chums to have been landed here for the last ten years. If the female passengers were not "rowdy" on board they have made up for it in all conscience since they came ashore — perhaps on the principle, that an abstinence light, when his ticket is up, goes on the spree forthwith.  -Otago Witness, 9/5/1874.

The ‘Tablet’ again takes up the cudgels for the Irish immigrants by the Asia as follows: “The ‘Daily Times,’ notwithstanding the very great injury done by its untrue statement, has not had the justice to endeavor to make amends. On the contrary, our contemporary has since published a letter from the medical doctor of the Asia, in which this officer speaks of the female immigrants who came, on board at Queenstown from a Reformatory. It is not improbable that this gentleman is the ‘best authority’ relied on by the ‘Times.’ At all events, we beg to state that there is no Reformatory for females in Cork city or county, and that it would be more satisfactory to the public to mention the name of the Reformatory from which the immigrants came than, to make vague statements. People could thus test the truth of the doctor’s statement. We understand that this gentleman has confounded with a Reformatory an institution of a very different character.”  -Evening Star, 9/5/1874.



"freely using the most profane language"

The Irish Immigrants. — The Otago Guardian of the 2nd May says:— From inquiry we ascertained that the immigrants by the Asia are very little, if at all, inferior to those who have arrived by the three preceding ships. There is no doubt, however, that they are far from being what they ought to be. Yesterday, at about half-past 4 o'clock, it large number of the immigrants, including both the young and old of both sexes, might be seen congregated on the side of the Main South road, opposite the barracks. Among those were two drunken men; a third also was engaged in a quarrel with an elderly female, in the course of which he was freely using the most profane language. She, in her turn, was threatening to tear another female into strips along the road. On Thursday evening the single women's department was the scene of a row, accompanied by shrieks that could be heard all over the place.  -Timaru Herald, 11/5/1874.

 "Jack will persist"

NOTES OF A TRIP FROM THE WAKATIP TO DUNEDIN.—NO. 4.  (excerpt)

I am inclined to think that Dunedin, for the present, has enough of the new-chum element; that there is a lowering of rates of wages, and a desire to colonise the new introduction by sending them up country to obtain the first lessons of that civilising process. It gives too much trouble here. The Asia's female passengers are getting into employment; but Emigration Barracks are disorganised somewhat, and Jack will persist in interviewing his sweetheart or shipmate of the "bounding billows" period.  -Lake Wakatip Mail, 12/5/1874.

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Monday. 11th May. (Before J. Bathgate, Esq., R.M.) 

Two New Chums.—Michael O'Keefe and Michael Sutton, two of the Asia's immigrants, were separately charged with being drunk and disorderly in the city. Being their first offence, they were each mulcted in a penalty of 5s.   -Otago Daily Times, 12/5/1874.

"drunk and disorderly at Caversham"

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT,

Thursday. 14th May. (Before J. Bathgate, Esq., R.M.)

Inebriates — Thomas Muir, an old offender, admitted being drunk, and was fined 5s, with the usual alternative. John Dickson and George Towsey, two of the Asia's batch, were charged with being drunk and disorderly in Princes street at midnight, which the Magistrate considered as a result of being flush of money, and inflicted a nominal fine upon each of them. William Ramsay appeared on crutches, and was mulcted in a penalty of 10s for being drunk in Hanover street, in default, three days' imprisonment with hard labour.

Misconduct. — Marion Macnamara, a married woman, living in the Immigration Barracks since her arrival by the Asia, was charged with being drunk and disorderly at Caversham at half-past ten the previous night. Being her first offence, she was discharged with a caution. Mr Bathgate instructed the police to make enquiries whether there was no regulation preventing immigrants leaving the Barracks after a reasonable time at night. If there was no such rule, he would endeavour to have one made.  -Otago Daily Times, 16/5/1874.

"Admittedly useless in Ireland"

We would do well now to begin to look closely to the question, from what classes we are to choose the mothers and fathers of our future generation? In introducing immigrants into this country at a huge cost, we should look above a mere strong-armed Biddy or broad shouldered Hodge, but we are sorry to say that of late we have not acted upon this principle. The sole motive which now seems to guide those whose mission it is to decide who are to be the parents of the future New Zealander is this: Ship something; good if we can get it, but ship at all cost.

Perhaps the most flagrant case we have yet had brought to our notice is that of the Asia. We have seen enough of the people in public print to satisfy us; but the common conversation of the town, and information we have received from several private sources, show that the arrival of the Asia with her tainted cargo must be regarded as little short of a public calamity. We have seen in the streets those ill-grown youths, and wondered why they came here; we have also seen those great, coarse, red-faced girls, who have paraded the town during the last few days, and wondered what, in the name of Fortune, they are fit for in a place like this, and what they will do towards supplying the crying want of decent handy servants.

We think it was in Punch that a servant, said, when his master asked why he was given hard stale bread, "Well, sir, we couldn't eat it in the kitchen, and it didn't ought to be wasted." Dr Wall, at a meeting of the Cork Board of Guardians, when Mrs Howard selected some 37 people to be shipped, by the Asia, said "it was as yet only an experiment, and the class of young girls they had at present in the House were like so many bad coins, coming back to them as soon as they got situations, for they could not keep them." Admittedly useless in Ireland, of what use can they be here? That they will get situations here, we have no doubt, but they will as surely fail to keep them as they did in Ireland. There they "came back" to the House constantly; what will they "come back" to here where there is no such House? The answer suggests itself without much difficulty, and the numerous reports we have heard aid the suggestion. 

We observe by the report published in the Cork Examiner of the meeting referred to, that there "were from 100 to 200 in addition to what the Committee had already selected, eligible for going." One gentleman, Mr Mahoney, protested against shipping the girls away, as, if it once began, none of the girls would take service outside the House, but would wait for their chance of emigrating. Mr Mahony seems to have been so warm on the subject that he refused to act upon the Selection Committee. Mr Fell agreed with him that the girls were much wanted in the country; and we must say that we agree with Messrs Fell and Mahoney, that for their own sakes they would be much better kept at home. We protest against the conduct of our authorities in importing girls of whom a member of the Board of Guardians can say that they "were engaged as servants, but from being too lazy and awkward, they were returned to them again." Mr Burrows did not agree with Mr Mahoney as to the undesirability of getting rid of their surplus rubbish, his ground being that "they had a number of women in the House they could never make anything of." We can quite understand the motives of the Board. They represent the ratepayers of Cork, not the paupers, and once they got a swarm of the latter off their hands they care not, with a feeling of satisfaction at having given their constituents an immense relief; and we do not blame them, for our representatives were quite at one with them on the subject. But we do blame those who are paid to look after our interests — our vital interests — for allowing such scandalous proceedings as these.  -Otago Daily Times, 23/5/1874.

"are very gradually being got rid of"

All was bustle and din at the Caversham Immigration Barracks yesterday, consequent upon the arrival of a fresh ship-load of labour, and the arrangements being made for their settlement. Scarce were the J. N. Fleming's lot ensconced in their temporary quarters on Monday, than a squabble took place between some of the females and the surplus of the Asia's single girls. The former complained of the tables in the mess room being unclean, and the latter boldly turned on the water and flooded the room. Quiet has been restored. Yesterday twenty young men were engaged as farm servants at £52 to £55. By the Wanganui 31 single men were shipped for Invercargill, and 116 single and married persons were sent to Oamaru. The remainder of the male portion will be open for engagement to-day, and the females on Friday. The Asia's immigrants are very gradually being got rid of.  -Otago Daily Times, 28/5/1874.

"we pity the unfortunates"

'The Tablet' this week has an article on Immigration, and alluding more particularly to the Asiatics, says:— “From our hearts we pity the unfortunates who have been shovelled out of workhouses into the Colonies. We have seen some of them, have witnessed their utter helplessness, their inability to earn their bread, owing to their ignorance of the most ordinary domestic duties, and, in some instances, their listlessness and disinclination to work. To send such people to the Colonies is cruel to themselves, and unjust to the colonists. We shall enumerate the classes of emigrants from Ireland that would be certain to succeed here. First, domestic servants who really know their business. Secondly, farm servants, young, healthy, and active — men who are willing and able to work, and understand what farm labor means. Again, young and intelligent agriculturists, who are prepared to rough it at first and have some capital — say from L800 to LI,000. To a certain extent, tradesmen of all sorts might come to this Colony. Of course, it would be possible for too many to come: but there is employment at high wages for a great many more than are here at present. But broken down gentlemen and professional men ought not to emigrate to this Colony. Such could not benefit themselves by doing so; they could find no employment in this country, and could not expect to meet with much sympathy amongst a hard-working, energetic race of colonists as the New Zealanders are.”  -Evening Star, 29/5/1874.

"conducting herself most indecently"

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Tuesday, June 2. (Before J. Bathgate, Esq., R.M.) 

Drunkenness. — Margaret Langlands, one of the Asia’s immigrants, was charged with being drunk at the Immigration Barracks at 9.30 p.m. yesterday. Constable Rooney said that at the time stated he found prisoner and another woman in a beastly state of drunkenness near the Immigration Barracks. She was accompanied by some sailors, and wanted to get into the Barracks, but the authorities refused to admit her. She was conducting herself most indecently and behaving in a most disgraceful manner.— Charles Duke, Barrackmaster, gave similar evidence. —His Worship: How long has she been in the Barracks? — Witness: About five weeks. — His Worship: Can’t she find employment? Witness: She is a married woman, her husband being employed at Mosgiel. - His Worship: Why is she kept in the Barracks? — Witness replied that she had notice to quit, and he had spoken to her husband on the matter. The latter said he could not find house accommodation. He was sorry to say that some of the immigrants spent their money in drink, and it was very difficult to manage them. — His Worship: Those who commit breaches of discipline must be brought here to be managed. Whatever the result, discipline must be maintained. We cannot allow public institutions to be turned inside out by a set of unruly people. I cannot see what excuse there is for a married woman carrying on in the manner in which you have. — Prisoner: I did not misbehave. — His Worship: You were found with drunken sailors, such conduct, by a married woman, is without excuse altogether. It is most disgraceful. I hesitate to send a married woman to gaol. You will appear here this day week, when I will hear how you are getting on. (Addressing the Sub. Inspector) Admit prisoner to bail on her own recognisance. — Margaret Charley, another immigrant by the Asia, was charged with the same offence. — Constable Rooney said that the prisoner was the woman previously referred to as having been in company with Langlands. She was the worse of the two, and rolled from the top to the bottom of a precipice. — Mr Duke also gave evidence. — His Worship: What is the history of the girl? Witness: She is an immigrant by the Asia (laughter) and had been at work for a month, after which she was sent back to the barracks as perfectly useless. Last night she was frightfully drunk. I never saw any one like it before; she was an awful sight. She was inciting the sailors to rescue her. It was a most difficult part that the constable had to perform, being surrounded by the inhabitants, sailors, and others. — His Worship fined prisoner 20s, with the option of three days’ imprisonment. He cautioned her if ever she got drunk again she would get a much heavier sentence.—Thomas Henderson was fined 5s, with the option of forty-eight hours’ imprisonment. Elizabeth Carey and Catherine Powell were discharged with a caution. 

Shocking Assault on a Police Constable. — Thomas Connelly was charged, on the information of Constable Wm. Rooney with having, on the 1st June, at Caversham assaulted him while in the exercise of his duty. — The prisoner, whose face was very much cut and bruised, pleaded not guilty. Wm. Rooney, police constable stationed at Caversham, said he was on duty at the Immigration Barracks last night. He had occasion to arrest a woman named Charley for drunkenness. While so engaged prisoner and two other men seized her and carried her away in their arms. Witness succeeded in retaking Charley, and conveyed her to the lock-up at Caversham. He then returned to the Immigration Barracks, and, accompanied by the Barrack-master, went round the barracks for the purpose of seeing that no strangers were there. When they arrived at the single men's department prisoner was pointed out as a sailor and as having no right to be there. Witness, who was in uniform and had been so all the evening, then recognised him as one of the three who had rescued the prisoner Charley, and arrested him. He went quietly till they got on to the Main South road, where, when opposite the Crown Hotel, he made a desperate struggle to get free. At this time he was not handcuffed. He jumped round and got witness by the shoulder. When he did so witness succeeded in throwing him on his back, falling on him, prisoner having hold of witness's neck. Immediately upon falling he felt prisoner’s teeth on his nose. Prisoner bit the point of his nose clean off. His nose bled very much. With the barrack-master’s assistance he then handcuffed prisoner. Finding that one handcuff was improperly fastened he made a second attack. Ultimately conveyed him to Dunedin. Prisoner appeared to be quite sober. The wounds on witness’s face were the effect of the bite. They were dressed at the Dunedin Hospital. By prisoner: When you were attempting to escape, after biting me, I struck you with my fist. This I felt necessary to do for the preservation of my life. — Charles Duke, master at the immigration Barracks, gave similar evidence, and added: On going round the building to see that everything was secure, when the constable saw prisoner, he said, “I now arrest you for attempting to rescue the prisoner Charley, also for being illegally in the barracks.” Prisoner went away quietly, and when opposite the Crown Hotel sprang round upon the constable, and grasped him by the neck. The latter threw prisoner, both falling, but the prisoner underneath. Witness went and caught hold of one of prisoner’s hands, and while doing so the constable said, “Look here, he has bit my nose,” and witness saw the blood streaming down the constable’s face on to prisoner’s face. A desperate struggle followed, and this lasted three minutes before prisoner was overpowered. He was then handcuffed. About three minutes afterwards the constable found that one of the handcuffs was improperly fastened, whereupon a more desperate struggle than the first ensued, lasting four or five minutes, prisoner remarking that he was good for any three men. Witness wished to state that the constable acted in a most praiseworthy manner under the circumstances. — Dr Yates said that Constable Rooney was taken to the Hospital shortly before midnight. Witness examined him and found that a piece of the flesh of his nose had been taken right out. The constable would in consequence be disfigured for life, there would always be a scar. — Prisoner was committed for trial. 

Money Stealing. Julia Paul, about twelve years of age, and Catherine Palser, about seventeen, were charged, on the information of Detective Shury, with having on or about the 23rd May, stolen from the Caledonian hotel two LI notes, the property of John Sike, laborer. — The prisoner admitted the charge, and Mr Stout, who appeared for them, said that, as instructed, the facts of the case were these — There was a pocket-book containing L6 lost by a man at the Caledonian Hotel, and the two girls were servants there. One of them found the book, and admitted to the detective that she had taken one pound from it, and the other girl admitted the same. Having found the money, they thought they could do what they pleased with it; but of course they had done wrong, as they should have given it to their master. The youngest girl had only recently arrived in the Colony; the other had been here some years. Considering their youth, he hoped the Bench would not send them to gaol, to mix with the people there. They had already received punishment, having lost their situations and character. He hoped his Worship would exercise the discretion to discharge allowed him. — Sub-Inspector Mallard explained that the prosecutor was living in the Caledonian Hotel. The Bench might think, after what Mr Stout had said, that he was not living in town, whereas he was a lodger in the hotel. The girls must have had the book some time, as it was found under the mattress. The younger girl was a late arrival by the Asia — (laughter) — being one of those who came out of the workhouse at Home. — His Worship said that, seeing both prisoners were so young, he did not want to send them to gaol, as perhaps to do so would make them worse, seeing the associates they would meet with there. This was, however, a very serious offence, as domestic servants had a great deal of confidence placed in them. He would treat the prisoners according to their future behaviour. They would be both bound over in their own recognizances for three months, at the end of which time they would come up, and if be found they had behaved themselves in a proper manner, and had removed this blot from their characters he would be inclined to let them off.  -Evening Star, 2/6/1874.

(Loud laughter)

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Monday, June 8. (Before J. Bathgate, Esq., R.M.) 

Drunkenness.—Mary Fraser was discharged with a caution; William Bailey Robert Lock, Malcolm Thomison, John Mathieson, Robert Every, and James Anderson alias Dallas, were each fined 5s, with the option of forty-eight hears' imprisonment; William Lloyd 20s, or forty-eight hours; John Jay 20s, or three days. Anne McNamara denied a charge of drunkenness on the previous day. — His Worship: What is the history of this woman? — Sub-Inspector Mallard: she is a passenger by the Asia — (Loud laughter.) - His Worship said he always looked with some leniency upon women who appeared in court for the first time. He did not think prisoner was sensible of her position, as this was her second offence within a very short time. Such conduct was altogether without excuse, and he could only look upon women who came here twice in a couple of months as abandoned characters. Prisoner was fined 40s, or in default three days imprisonment.   -Evening Star, 8/6/1874.

 RANGES ! RANGES ! ! RANGES ! ! ! 

Garton and King’s Exeter Ranges — a large assortment ex Asia. Also, ex Durham, Kerosene Lamps, Globes, and Shades, assorted Sizes and Patterns, at Low Prices. JAMES WALLS, Wholesale and Retail Ironmonger, Corner of Princes and Walker streets, Dunedin.   -Evening Star, 8/6/1874.

"French ballet dancers"

"Atticus" writes as follows in the Melbourne Leader:— "It is to be hoped that the New Zealand authorities will keep their assisted immigrants to themselves when they get them. A short time ago they imported a lot of French ballet dancers at the public expense, and now they have just received a consignment of thirty-three social evils by the 'Asia,' while one hundred of the other girls by the same ship were taken out of the Cork workhouse. I cannot congratulate the next generation of New Zealanders on their parents, if, as is likely, these workhouse and reformatory immigrants will marry and have children. They are not exactly the stuff that one would select for the mothers of a nation."  -Daily Southern Cross, 10/6/1874.


"empty bottles knocking around"

The “Asiatics” who have found their way into the country districts are maintaining their character. From the Tuapeka paper we learn “that a woman named Blackie — a candidate, we believe, for Good Templar honors — on the afternoon of Friday last amused herself by robbing the honey from a hive of bees situated in Mr Fressley's nursery. She performed the feat in a most skilful manner, evidently showing previous knowledge of the treatment of these social and industrious little animals. Instead of lifting up the hive, as a novice might do, she carefully removed the top from the box, and extracted all the comb containing honey and made away with it. All this she did, be it observed, in broad daylight. Mr Pressley, who had been in Dunedin, arrived home the same evening, but knew nothing of the matter till Saturday, when on making inquiry he found that “my lady” had departed for Dunedin with her jar of honey by coach. After the necessary formalities were completed, a warrant was issued for her arrest, and the police set on her track. No doubt she will get a free passage back to Lawrence. And in to-day’s ‘Bruce Herald’ appears the following ‘One of the Asia’s immigrants got a job, stone-breaking, at East Taieri. A man lent him a whare to sleep in. There were several cases of spirits stored in the whare. The immigrant was found one day fast asleep in the whare, a case broken in upon, and many broken and empty bottles knocking around. The immigrant accounted for these inconveniences by saying that a dog had come into the house, opened the case, knocked the necks off the bottles, and drank their contents, and this extraordinary thing had stupefied him. Nothing more has been done in the matter.”  -Evening Star, 12/6/1874.

SHIPPING

The good Ship Asia is high out of the water, and looms tremendously at the pier when the tide is in. We question very much whether such a wall of iron as her side presents was ever before seen at the Pier. The ship is now ballasting, and has taken in about 500 tons of the 700 which she requires to keep her right side up in a breeze.   -Otago Daily Times, 16/6/1874.

"soliciting drunken men"

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Monday, June 15th. (Before J. Bathgate, Esq., R.M.)

An Undesired Immigrant.—Ann Macnamara, a grey-haired woman who has been twice in Police custody since her arrival by the Asia, was now charged under the Vagrant Act, with having no lawful means of support. It was stated that she was in the habit of loitering about Princes street South at night, and soliciting drunken men. She was sent to prison for the full term of three months' imprisonment.  -Otago Daily Times, 16/6/1874.

"a brute in human form"

From late Otago papers we learn that at the Dunedin Police Court a brute in human form, recently arrived, was committed for trial for biting off a policeman's nose, and two girls, one of whom arrived by the Asia and was formerly an inmate of an Irish workhouse, were charged before the Magistrate with stealing a pocketbook containing a sum of money. The Otago Daily Times referring to the character of the immigrants for whom good colonial money has been paid, says:— "The records of the Police Court have made it sufficiently manifest that the hard words spoken of them are all too soft for the persons to whom they are applied. Nothing we can now do will atone for the negligence of our agents. We have but to increase our police force, enlarge our gaols, double our reformatory, extend our refuge, treble our deterrent punishments. We must be prepared for crimes of a character that we have been long unused to; and it is to be hoped that our Magistrates are alive to the necessity of prompt and startling action. We must express our deep sympathy for the unfortunate girls of decent character who were shipped among the riff raff, since it will be a blight on their character for years that they came out in the Asia." In the meantime the bad characters of those who have arrived have precluded the possibility of their obtaining permanent employment, and they now lie in the emigration quarters a weight of pauperism on the Government. The high price of labour continues, but the urgency of the demand has been paralysed by the character of the people brought to meet it. Hence there is a difficulty of finding employment in the Southern parts of the colony where the demand has hitherto been most clamorous. In the early part of last week there were no less than 700 immigrants in the barracks at Dunedin. We cannot but view with alarm the state of matters that is growing up in the colony through the influx of a dissolute and worthless population. Even when well-conducted, there is a danger from free immigration, under which labour predominates over capital, of there arising a superabundance of workmen as compared with the number of employers. Happily the rapid adaptation of the Anglo Saxon race to any circumstances of life, and the readiness with which workmen in the colony become to a great extent independent of capitalists for remunerative employment, will prevent any evil effects beyond some temporary hardship and difficulty to the immigrants themselves so long as the people are industrious and persevering; but with a criminal and pauper population, a commercial depression and consequent lack of employment must result in serious crime if not in anarchy and confusion. We hope the Assembly this session will not stop short of a complete and sweeping reform in the Immigration Department.  -Auckland Star, 17/6/1874.

"absolutely intolerable"

By private communications from Otago, we learn that the Conduct of a large number of the Asia's immigrants has proved absolutely intolerable. Some of them have spread through the province, and their progress has been marked by a series of thefts and outrages, of all descriptions. In Dunedin, the Energies of the police have been taxed to the utmost in looking after these "Asiatics," and Mr Bathgate, the Resident Magistrate, is said to be perfectly exhausted by the labour of signing warrants for their committal, time after time. The gaol and the lock-up have both proved insufficient for the accommodation of these exceedingly undesirable additions to the population, and last the Provincial Government has arrived at the conclusion that the best and cheapest mode of meeting the difficulty is to ship the worst of the lot back to the place from whence they came. It is said seriously that the Provincial Government, at its own expense, is making arrangements for the emigration of about 30 of the Asiatics back to England and Ireland, most of the feminine undesirables being ex inmates of the Cork Reformatory.  -Evening Post, 23/6/1874.

ACCIDENTS AND OFFENCES.

There has been an ordinary amount of accidents and crime in the Province during the past month, a noticeable feature being the comparative large number of the ship Asia's immigrants charged with varied offences — from the biting off of a constable's nose, to stealing jars of honey — scarcely a day passing without some of Mrs Howard's consignment appearing in Police custody. It has been currently reported that the Government intend to give them free passages home, and thus make the best of a bad job. To judge from their capabilities, to adopt such a course would be a gain to the Colony.   -Otago Daily Times, 4/7/1874.

"constantly drunk"

On immigration there was of course plenty to be said. There are the notorious Asiatics, a cargo — for they can scarcely be called anything else — of women from the reformatories and workhouses cruelly mixed up with some few respectable emigrants, who were sent to Otago and who have since their arrival been in constant trouble with the police, constantly drunk, or otherwise misconducting themselves, and of whom the Provincial Government actually propose to give free passages to eighty back to the port from which they came. It needed small eloquence to show how deeply the interests of the colony - moral, social, and material — are affected by immigration of this character, or to raise a storm of indignation against the carelessness or the callousness of the Home Immigration Office, by which alone it could have occurred.  -NZ Herald, 15/7/1874.


We find in late Parliamentary papers a telegram from the Superintendent of Otago re the "Asiatics," dated 4th June, addressed to the Premier, complaining "I can get no ship to take them home;" and, in default of this, says a Wellington paper, he applies for authority to spend L230 in erecting a high wall round the female depot in order to prevent their climbing over, and making themselves a nuisance to the neighborhood. The Premier sanctioned the amount.  -Bruce Herald, 17/7/1874.

"a degraded life in Dunedin"

From what we learn from Otago the 'Asiatics' — which is the generic name given to the contingent of workhouse immigrants sent out by Mrs. Howard in the 'Asia' to Dunedin — present the worst lot of voluntary immigrants that ever left the old country to curse with their idle presence and wretched incompetency the morale and industry of a young colony. The majority of the men are, as a rule, lazy, good-for-nothing poor creatures, men who had lived in miserable cabins, peat and turf diggers, and the women mainly useless, who, having gravitated to an Irish workhouse, became utterly unfitted, if ever they were otherwise, for domestic service. The curse of the English and Irish workhouse system is the giving of poor relief to able-bodied paupers. That system creates bodies of idlers who will not work if they can possibly by any miserable shift avoid it, and by-and-by they become utterly demoralised and cannot work at even the most simple and unskilled labour. For many weeks after the arrival of the 'Asia,' the Immigration Barrack at Caversham was crowded with about 150 of these immigrants, whose appearance and incapacity told so seriously against them that people would not employ them. In many cases those who did engage some found them worse than useless, and however easy the work, the in-bred idleness of both the women and the men, and their ingrained dislike to work made them throw up their situations and return once more to the do-nothing life of the barracks. Several ships have come into Otago with immigrants, all of whom always — excepting those of the 'Caroline,' which arrived last week — speedily obtained lucrative employment; and still some seventy or eighty of these Asiatic culls are "loafing" about in the Caversham barracks. Some of these women, it is said, ply a degraded life in Dunedin, and the scenes of disturbance and vicious doings of which they are the cause, and in which they are actors, have been such that the quiet little village of Caversham had to be protected by the presence of the police, a large body of which were removed to Caversham, and stationed there, in order to compel the maintenance of order. And now, the other day, a second importation of this workhouse lot, procured by Mrs. Howard (shade of the philanthropist, what has thus been perpetrated under thy historic cognomen!) arrived at Otago in the 'Caroline.' They are not a whit better than the preceding lot of Mrs. Howard's pets, and unquestionably these Howard importations are a disgrace to the immigration system of the colony. 

It has been the fashion to visit with considerable severity, at least in the way of comment, the conduct of the Agent-General in England in connection with these and some kindred importations. Naturally people suppose that Dr. Featherston would never have employed as agent a woman who, as Mrs. Howard has done, has proved by her selection to be, perhaps, the most unfitted person that could have been chosen. It is unpleasant to think of what could have been her notions of our domestic wants— her considerations of what constitutes social morality — or in what school she could have learned these besides that of a Registry Office. The "Registry Office," as most readers know, is the name of a play by one of the earlier English dramatists, and the situations of the piece disclose what, at one time at least was possible in such establishments. Of course, we have improved all that now; but we nevertheless marvel how it happens that the keeper of a servants' Registry Office in Dunedin, who ought to have understood real domestic requirements, and seen at a glance whether or not they existed, who, from her experience of young women, should have known how to discriminate between proper and improper characters — how could such a person have sent to the colony the claps of people who are still in scores and scores idling and misbehaving themselves in and around Caversham? It is one of those social enigmas of which another is the fact, that from the Superintendent of Otago downwards, including doctors, merchants, lawyers, and other hospitable householders of Dunedin, flaming certificates were signed testifying in the most approved and unqualified fashion to the capacity, propriety, judgment and the rest, of this feminine collector of workhouse sweepings, and urging on Dr. Featherston to employ her as selector of immigrants. Some of the very best persons in Otago, singular though it be, signed this testimonial and recommendation, and thus this totally unfit person was sent home practically as the accredited agent, and was in consequence employed, with what results we now see. From the least prejudiced of eyewitnesses we have undoubted testimony that a worse body of voluntary immigrants than these workhouse contingents never before set foot in a British colony. We are credibly informed that a little ordinary inquiry would have supplied the authorities and the public with evidence perfectly sufficient to prove Mrs. Howard's unfitness for the work of immigrant selection. We know it now by dire experience, that unfortunate system of testimonial and petition signing, that reckless way with which a man parts with his name, and where no monetary obligation is concerned, will undertake serious moral responsibility without considering the effect of his action, and while knowing, it may be, that the thing is improper — to that system is due the immigration reproach under which it at present suffers. To a large extent, therefore, Dr. Featherston is to be excused, if not fully exonerated regarding these particular people. How could he doubt the excellence and capacity of such a woman with such a name and with such credentials? Her prompt dealings with the workhouse authorities, her threats of action at law if the numbers promised were not supplied, showed her in the light of a vigorous woman; but still, it cannot be desired that Dr. Featherston or his subagent in Ireland, (where an immigration officer gets a fine salary and does not do much for it) ought to have interfered when the workhouse supply was mooted. The line ought to have been inexorably drawn at workhouses. If these were to be the the ordinary fruits of our immigration scheme heaven help the future of the colony. We wanted labour it is true, the land is waiting and waiting for want of it; but it is not the labour of indiscriminate drafts from workhouses, the guardians of which would naturally send, as doubtless they did, the worst inmates they had, glad to get rid of them for ever. Otago is being punished for the indiscretion of many of its leading men who were so far left to themselves as to strongly recommend to the Agent-General a person whose utter incapacity for immigration work is proved by the wretched results of her labours. We hope that those persons who so easily sign petitions and give testimonials and certificates without due consideration will take a lesson by this awkward affair, and pause before committing themselves to the recommendations of persons or proceedings out of which, by means of loosely given signatures, much evil may arise.  -Daily Southern Cross, 21/7/1874.


The Immigration Agent, Mrs Howard, can be allowed the last word here.  

"bad characters of all descriptions waiting to pounce upon them from all sides"

MRS. HOWARD IN DEFENCE. 

The following extract from a letter, dated May 15th, 1874, sent by Mrs. Howard to a friend in Dunedin, has been published in the Daily Times:— 

Dr. Featherston has asserted to me that a telegram was sent him from Otago to prohibit any more girls going from me, as some of the Carnatic girls went on the streets. In the first place, I did not send all the girls who went in the Carnatic, and I can scarcely believe such a thing of my girls. Secondly, if such an end came to those poor things, I will state some facts which might help to account for it. They came from country districts in Ireland, where they had been under the care of parents and friends, priests and nuns. I travelled with them and took care of them, according to my promise to their friends, the whole five hundred miles, superintending every change of conveyance, subjecting myself to fatigue and privations of all sorts, so as to protect these inexperienced travellers from all kinds of dangers that cannot be here enumerated. I kept all the single women in one compartment of the railway, the single men in others, and the families in others.

When we reached Paddington, after travelling incessantly for more than twenty-four hours, tired to death, I did not then desert my charge — eighty souls in all — but put them in vans provided for me by the railway to take them to the docks, and proceeded myself in a cab, that I might be there first to get their luggage passed through the Customs, &c., all of which is man’s work — but I got none to help me. 

To my extreme vexation the ship was not ready to receive them, and the poor things, weary in body, and hungry and thirsty, had to go to lodgings provided by the Agent-General for those people and others situated in the same way. And where think you this “home” is situated? In the very centre of Whitechapel at a large public house and boarding-house kept by a Mr. Upson, and called the Brittania. With regard to the internal arrangements no fault could be found. The bedrooms were of the cleanest and most comfortable kind, plenty of attention and food food, but no privacy whatever. No sooner had I counted the girls and got them into some order, and turned round to see after others, than a number of young fellows were into the place, and persuaded them they would be locked in for the night if they did not come off directly. After inspecting the rooms, and returning down stairs to see them at dinner, I found the flock I had been so careful about gone out at once into the thick of the Whitechapel mob, gay shops of cheap articles, bad characters of all descriptions waiting to pounce upon them from all sides. I had no legal power to keep them in, and the landlord said it was beyond his. My real duty to the Government had ended when I had selected the emigrants in Ireland and signed my name, after inspecting themselves and their characters and clothes; but I had imposed this extra duty and expense upon myself, to ward off these dreadful evils from my young girls, and not leave them until I had put them on board the ship, and delivered them up to the matrons provided for them. 

My heart sickened as I contemplated the evils that might arise from this state of things, evils which Mr. Edwards, the present Archdeacon of St. Paul’s, Dunedin, Father Moreau, the late Parish Priest, and myself had so often lamented in old times, but I was powerless. Mr. Upson promised to go out, and with his sons and others, hunt them up, and after staying about three hours in his house, and having only the barren comfort of seeing a few return to go their beds, I had to leave; my duties on board the ship next day compelled me to get home and get some rest after all my exertions and fatigue. Next day, I was early at the ship, and most of the band I had brought from Ireland had arrived; but I heard many grievous tales from one and another of how they had been coaxed away, some robbed of the little money they had got, al1 were penitent and sorry, but they all with one voice proclaimed, “Ah, ma’am, it was no place to take young girls to, fresh from the country,” and I could but feel the force of this myself. The telegram the A-G. speaks of confirms my worst fears, but 1 repudiate all blame. It should be put on those whose duty it was when the scheme of Free Emigration was first set on foot to make their first step a provision for the reception of the female portion at all events, of the emigrants, so that they should be protected from the snares that beset them on arriving in a large city like London, where they become a most welcome prey to the worst characters. On calling on Dr. Featherston after the sailing of the ship, I told him of my horror of the place and manner in which these girls were provided for; and he agreed with me it was not a good place, and told me he was trying to make some other arrangements. 

I afterwards brought about 89 for the Woodlark, but was fortunate in being able to get them on board the same night. 

I then petitioned the Agent-General to gave me a ship to Queenstown, instead of dragging these poor people all the way to London. He consented, and sent the Asia, with berths unfilled for 160, which I completed. 

I have since sent 260 by the Caro1ine, 200 by the Carrick Castle, many small parties by the Sussex, Peter Denny, Hindostan, and other ships, and I have now over 200 people all prepared, only waiting for passages. 

My first 1000 emigrants is more than completed. 

The tide of emigration that I have induced to set in from various parts of England and Ireland will now flow freely and will not be stayed. 

I am popular with the people, and have shown them that New Zealand is the best Colony for ready industrious emigrants to go to.

I may be unjustly deprived of my commission in the future, but nothing can deprive me of the satisfaction I have experienced in benefiting the worthy poor, and helping on the prosperity of Otago by sending her good laborers, male and female, in every class of industry. 

I truly believe that when the people of Otago are made acquainted with the facts, and how I have worked in their interests for the past six months, they will do me justice.  -NZ Mail, 8/8/1874.

And there it is.  If we are to believe Mrs Howard, her Irish charges "had been under the care of parents and friends, priests and nuns."  They had been nourished and protected in their native land; they were unsullied gems of the Emerald Isle.  London, it was, wicked London - a place so corrupt that, in the space of a mere evening, the pure, moral and godly persons of her charges were turned into the "great, coarse, red-faced girls" who arrived in Dunedin.