Dunedin Gossip
We have had amongst us an intelligent “vagrant,” who has been doing our institutions and causing a slight flutter in the breasts of officials. A night in the Benevolent Institution disclosed nothing of startling nature, but rather the other way. A residence in Seaclitf, as a patient, was also somewhat tame. Certainly, the fact was brought out that a sane man, who chooses to act the part of a lunatic and do it well, can deceive both magistrates and doctors. That was a point that scarcely wanted illustrating, though, because a doctor can only tell by long and pareful examination, extending perhaps over months, how far a mind is affected. The question is of whether a sane man or woman can, at the instigation of friends — or rather enemies — be incarcerated in the crucial test. Having finished the Lunatic Asylum, it was natural that attention should be turned to the gaol. This is not quite so agreeable a task, because, whether entered in earnest or as a good joke, the record always stands. However, the vagrant braved all this, and selecting Mosgiel as his hunting field, he was arrested for vagrancy. Anticipating at the most seven days, he was disagreeably surprised to find the two J’s.P. make it 14 days. Arrived in gaol, the vagrant “gave himself away.” He disclosed who he was, whereupon he was instantly brought before the doctor, and examined as to ability to work with the hard labor pang, and packed off at once to the Heads. Hard labor and fare, to one loving neither, was a dear price to pay, and it is doubtful if the prison authorities will not, before it is all over, have rather the laugh of the vagrant. He has the melancholy satisfaction of knowing, however, that if the justices who sentenced him, had had the slightest idea of his character, the sentence would have been three months instead of one. -Cromwell Argus, 25/12/1888.
"THE VAGRANT" IN DUNEDIN GAOL.
FOURTEEN DAYS' HARD LABOR.
Dear Jack, — As I write this the air of the balmy summer morning is full of sounds of pleasure seeking. It is Boxing Day. The sun, long a stranger, again sheds his genial warmth. The sonorous whistles of the steamers at the wharves near by indicate that holiday-makers are about to set off for their marine excursions, and blended with the sounds is the music of distant brass bands. Gaily dressed people hurry along the streets, and all is "life, color, and movement." From my elevated window in Princes street I can see many a couple setting off for their day's enjoyment; he satchel in hand, lined no doubt with good things, prepared by some one who, like Mrs Gilpin, "had a frugal mind," and she dressed in unwonted summer attire. No signs of depression this morning. Every face beams with anticipation of joys to come. All are well dressed, and it seems that those who have no good clothes have stayed at home. For the time-being poverty hides its gaunt form, and, "youth at the helm and pleasure at the prow", everyone who possibly can gives way to enjoyment. Different far are the scenes among which I have passed the last fourteen days. In the gaol, which I have just left, nothing occurs to vary the deadly monotony of routine. No Christmas pudding there sent aloft its grateful incense from the groaning board, and each gloomy prisoner when he eyed his Chrismas breakfast of ten ounces of dry bread, and his pannikin of black, unsweetened tea, must have realised that for once, at all events, the way of the transgressor is hard.
DELIBERATION. I had resolved to include the Dunedin Gaol among the institutions of the City with whose innermost working I wished to become acquainted, and with that view cast about for a suitable opportunity of becoming an inmate. At first I intended to commit some such venial offence as would entitle me to fourteen days' hard labor; but, as the holiday season approached, my ambition became more circumscribed, and I then thought that seven days would be quite sufficient Therefore, I made a careful study of the Police Offences Act and the Justices of the Peace Act. A wide list of offences was open to me. I might knock a policeman down, but I reflected that the operation might be a risky one, and might possibly lead not only to a broken head, but to an inconvenient claim for damage done to his uniform. It is a popular belief that policeman have no objection to a new uniform now and then when he sees a "good mark." Then, again, I might break a window, but that would also involve a risk of injuring myself and others. Finaally, I struck on the idea of stealing some overcoat which hung on a convenient peg in some hotel lobby.
DETERMINATION. For various reasons I fixed upon Mosgiel as the locality to be immortalised in this connection, and an early train on a recent morning saw me bowling off towards the scene of my future exploit. I don't feel quite sure whether "bowling" along is quite the designation to fix on in describing the journey by such a train as I went by. It is "reportese," I am well aware — a kind of bastard English that a great many young and cheap reporters are fond of using — but to be strictly accurate I should say "jerking" along. In most civilised countries trains are so coupled that the whole mass is rigidly bound together, and the starts and stoppages are almost imperceptible. In New Zealand, on the contrary, the vehicles are so loosely attached that by the time the motion has reached the hinder end of the train it has telescopically increased so much in volume as to almost jerk the carriage up into the air, much to the injury of nerves, and not at all to the bodily comfort of the passengers. I shall never forget the startling suddenness of the change which overcast the countenance of a portly lady who once fell under the influence I have tried to describe. She was very stout, and when she entered the rearmost carriage she stood in the aisle, her face towards the engine, placidly adjusting an enormous red scarf around her neck. At the precise moment when her hands were fully occupied in fixing her comforter at the back of her neck, the whistle sonnded and the train was put into motion. The tension ran along the train with the well-known crescendo rattle; and when it reached our carriage the result was a sharp jerk forward of at least a foot. The lady's centre of gravity was suddenly changed, and she sat down on the floor with a rapidity which did not increase either her composure or her comfort. She disappeared from the view of of those who were on the platform as quickly as does "Judy" in the puppet show. We reached Mosgeil station in good time, however, and I started at once to set my affairs in train.
STRATEGY. In order to form an estimate of their clemency or severity, I interviewed two of the local Justices, without, however, divulging my errand, and came to the conclusion that the plan would work. I held a card up my sleeve, as it were, for I had determined, should there be any fear of an unduly severe sentence, to avow my identity, even should it be necessary to procure a remand in order to establish it. Yours truly is not quite so enthusiastic in the search for truth as to be imprisoned for three months at this season of the year, at all events. Having taken, mentally, the measure of my future judges, my next task was to fix upon a suitable victim. I called upon Mr Vannini, and having duly invoked the divinities by pouring libations upon the altar of conviviality, I discovered that I could not have encountered a better subject than the gentleman named for my experiment. I cautiously opened the first parallel by telling Mr Vannini who I was, but carefully refrained from disclosing my business fully. At the same time he could easily suspect that I had some game in view. As luck would have it, an overcoat hung invitingly near the door in an adjacent passage, but the time was not yet ripe. For in the course of conversation I learned that next day - that is Saturday - Carew presided at the monthly sitting of the Court at Outram, only nine miles away by rail; therefore, I concluded, if I do this deed tonight, Constable Burnett will march me off to Outram first thing in before Mr Carew, who will probably remember the Seacliff episode, and, to use a vulgarism, the fat will be in the fire.
OBSERVATION. So I spent the day in seeing the lions of the township. Its chief feature, of course, is the woollen factory, now a colonially famous one. The chief merit whioh it possesses in the eyes of residents exists in the fact that it distributes more than L500 weekly in wages, most of which is of oourse locally spent. The great steam whistle which marks the time for the operatives occupies the position of a town dock, and is the local standard of time. Fronting the main street in which the factory stands is a seemingly endless row of uniformly-built cottages, each one fronted by its neat patch of garden, assiduously attended to and bountifully productive. I also spent an instructive and pleasant hour in the dairy factory recently established by Messrs Cuddie Bros., who now manipulate daily upwards of 700 gallons of milk and convert it into butter, for which a satisfactory market is easily found. I also visited the Athenaeum, where a number of provincial newspapers are daily to be seen. The one building does duty as a post and telegraph office, athenaeum, and Court-house, besides being used for various meetings. Hence the Athenaeum portion of its functions suffers, and the result is that the reading-room is not by any means commensurate with the size and importance of the place, either in scope or arrangement. And so the day was spent, with the prospect of passing another couple in much the same manner.
RURALISATION. But I was in good quarters, Not only is Mr Vannini an unusually agreeable and well-informed host, but the appointments of his hotel are surprisingly elaborate. For instance, the table would do no discredit to any City hotel, and when at bed time I was conducted upstairs by "Van" — as he is familiarly called by his friends — himself, the splendor of the room to which I was admitted was so completely at variance with my assumed character and appearance that my native modesty came to the rescue and made me ask for a less sumptuous resting-place. Even in the less gorgeously-furnished room with which I was supplied I reposed on a wire wove mattress, and found the other appointments to correspond. Never was a vagrant more hospitably treated, and I no longer wondered at the popularity of the house and its numerous clientele. I found enough occupation next day, for I have other Press duties than are implied by the position of the "Vagrant" and then came Sunday. That "holy day" brought quite an influx of visitors who were a-pleasuring from Dunedin, despite the howling gale which blew. The comfort of my dinner was completely spoiled by the manner of an exceedingly handsome young lady who was among the visitors, and sat opposite me. She found something — I don't for the life of me know what it could be - so excessively ludicrous in my appearance that she had great difficulty is smothering a laugh, and partook of the meal in a state of suppressed giggle. She was evidently uncomfortable, and the discomfort extended to me also, so that I was glad when I could with propriety leave the table. No doubt the young lady would have preserved her gravity had the been aware that a "chiel was takin' notes, and, faith, would prent them"; and the incident may not be without pregnant lesson to those who are inclined to hastily judge of the nut by the husk.
APPROPRIATION. On the evening of the next day, Monday, I judged the time opportune for carrying out my purpose. At about half-past nine I asked for my candle, having first ascertained that the coat on which I had my eye was still in the lobby. I loudly bade Mr Vannini good night and went upstairs. I did not go to bed, however, but after waiting about ten minutes I stole down again on tiptoe, and, seeing the coast clear, coolly took down the coat and walked out of the side door. I had calculated that it would be missed in about twenty minutes or half an hour, and leisurely walked up the Main street in the direction of the railway station as if returning to Dunedin by the late train.
INCARCERATION. It was bright moonlight, and as I carried my prize ostentatiously on my arm, I had no fear of not being caught. I had made myself familiar with the appearance of Constable Burnett, so that I was therefore not surprised at seeing him "with the tail of my eye" when I had got near the station, and accompanied by Mr Vannini and another man. I was walking in the middle of the road, they on the footpath. The constable ranged alongside of me — he being in plain clothes — and remarked that it was a fine night. Some commonplace conversation about the weather ensued, until we reached Nott's Hotel, just opposite the station. Being asked "Would I have a wet?" I assented, and went inside. While we were discussing the drinks, my companion's attention was suddenly drawn to the coat I still carried on my arm, and he remarked that it was a very nice one. How much did I give for it? I made some evasive reply, and then came the remark that it was very like Vannini's coat, and in fact he had complained of its loss. Mr Vannini was by this time outside, and, being called in, speedily identified his property, and I was duly taken into custody and charged with, its theft. From first to last — from the abstraction of the garment until my capture was not more than twenty-five minutes — a rather smart arrest. I have not yet seen the local newspaper account of the occurrence, but I could easily imagine it to run somewhat as follows:
DARING THEFT AND SMART ARREST. About half-past nine o'clock on Monday evening a man named John Jenkins, who had been staying at Vannini's Hotel for a few days previous, coolly walked off with a waterproof coat which was hanging in the passage, and made off in the direotion of the station. Information was promptly given to the police, and before the thief could get away with his ill-gotten booty be was smartly arrested by Constable Burnett. He was brought before the Bench next morning and sentenced to fourteen days' hard labor in Dunedin Gaol, there to meditate upon the truth of the distich: "He who prigs what isn't bis'n, When he's cotched he's sent to prison."
The celerity of the capture confers the highest credit on our local guardian of the peace.
On our way from Nott's Hotel to the police station, Mr Vannini gave repeated proofs of his histrionic talent. For the edification of the constable he abused me soundly. He had treated me like a prince, he said, and this was my return for it. To his companion — who had been a fellow-lodger — he audibly remarked that I looked like a gaol bird, and so on. I also played my part in the little drama, and assumed a "devil-may-care" tone. I contended that there ought to be no individual property vesting in overcoats; that they ought to be common to all. And so I was marched down to the police elation, passed through the brilliant garden which fronts it, and was duly incarcerated in one of the cells at the rear. Here I underwent the formal operation of searching. Pipe, knife, tobacco, match box, pencil, three threepenny pieces, two pennies, and a halfpenny constituted my valuables, and I was left to my reflections. I found the cell of the description which has become so familiar of late to me, except that it was sumptuously furnished with a straw mattress in addition to the customary bedding. Before I was left, however, the constable asked whether I had had any tea, and but for my repeated assurance that I had would there and then have got me some. I had purposely walked about a good deal during the early part of evening, so I quickly fell asleep, confident that next morning would see the success of my project. At about eight o'clock next morning my constable came to my cell with breakfast. A nice mug of tea, flanked with slices of bread and butter and marmalade, formed a substantial foundation for the day's proceedings. At a little after ten Constable Burnett, this time in full war paint, again presented himself and intimated that we must go to the Court.
CONDEMNATION. I anxiously inquired who were to be the presiding magistrates, and to my boundless disgust learned that Mr D would be there. Now I had never seen Mr D, but I had heard enough about him, and that he was not famous for leniency. He was a Pharoah who knew not Joseph, and I was now extremely solicitous about the result. The usual number of idlers graced the Court-room when I was duly arraigned. The charge was read by the constable to the effect that " I, John Jenkins, did within six months — to wit, on the tenth day of December last — feloniously steal, take, and carry away one overcoat, the property of D. Vannini, of the value of two pounds, contrary to the statute in such case made and provided." "How did I plead?" In my plea I admitted taking the coat, but said that I intended to return it at some future time. This was construed into a plea of "guilty," and the constable stated the facts of the case. He was not sworn, and told the story very fairly. He said all he could for me, and in extenuation mentioned that I made no attempt to escape, which I could easily have done. No evidence was called, nor did I ask the constable any questions, nor make any defence, except to repeat my former statement. The gentlemen on the Bench (Messrs D and L ) consulted, and I distinctly heard the former suggest a month. The other seemed more lenient; and then it was intimated that the Bench were extremely sorry to gee a man of my respectable appearance in such a position, and that the sentence of the Court would be fourteen days' hard labor in Dunedin Gaol. Although I knew it was too late to do so, I demurred to the length of the sentence, and pointed out what circumstances could be urged in favor of a less term. "Too late!" was the reply, and the Court rose. There can be no doubt that the sentence was unnecessarily severe, taking all the circumstances into consideration. I am sure the Justices have no conception what fourteen days' hard labor really means, else they would not have sentenced "a man of respectable appearance" to such a term. And in my case it was particularly aggravating, not only because of certain private circumstances, but because almost everyone with whom I conversed concurred in saying that the position held by the gentleman who acted as spokesman on the Bench is one of many instances of the dignity of a J.P. being frequently imperilled. However, I will leave this particular Dogberry for the present and pass on with my narrative. I was now marched back to my place of confinement, and informed that we should proceed to Dunedin by the half-past twelve train. Meantime dinner was brought. It consisted of toothsome cold meat, pickles, bread and butter, and tea, so that on the score of entertainment at the police quarters at Mosgiel there was nothing to complain of.
RECRIMINATION. While it was being discussed I had another visit from Mr Vannini, who acquiesced in my opinion of the severity of the sentence, and who now probably saw what my game really was. As we were about to start for the station (the constable meanwhile having rejoined me) my landlord again assumed his stage attitude, and reproached me in set terms for my ingratitude — all for the constable's benefit.
TRANSLATION. With some difficulty we caught the train, and we had almost to run for it. In order to spare my feelings as much as possible, the constable obtained leave for us to ride in the guard's van, and we commenced our journey. We started at half-past twelve, and reached Dunedin at five minutes past two. Mosgiel is distant nine miles, so the startling speed can easily be calculated. While coming through the Caversham tunnel a phenomenon was pointed out to me which I have never seen mentioned. Looking out of the rear of the train, the opening of the tunnel gradually diminishes in size; and as all tunnels are constructed with a rise in the middle, in order that the water may flow away freely, the elliptical opening gradually lessened in appearance; then it became a perfect half-moon, and so on diminishing to a faint crescent. When at the semi-circular stage the smoke and steam floating out of the mouth of the tunnel seemed exactly like the dark spots on the moon, and the light was exactly similar to that of the moon in a somewhat cloudy sky. So close a counterpart of the moon I have never seen pictured.
DESTINATION. When the train arrived at its destination I was conducted to the gaol via Castle street, and, in obedience to the constable s knock, the gloomy portal opened, our presence having been first scanned through a grated opening by a warder inside. Any common writer would say here that Dante's motto ought to be over the door; but yours truly is not a common writer, therefore we shall not disentomb the hackneyed quotation. We gained admission to a paved court yard. On the right-hand side I could see tho kitchen and bathroom, and an office; on the left another office, in which was the gaoler and a clerk. In the yard were two warders, with their truncheons drawn and ostentatiously held under the arm. These truncheons are what we would colonially term "waddies"; and even such a casual inspection as I gained of I them convinced me that their intimate acquaintance with one's occiput would not be desirable. The constable produced the warrant to the gaoler, who, examining it, saw that my sentence was fourteen days' hard labor. "Fourteen and eleven make twenty-five," said he; "that will just bring you to Christmas." And he laughed a laugh which was saturnine and in which there was no merriment. The warders also laughed, but discreetly and unostentatiously. Then one of them searched me. He felt all my pockets, and when I assured him that the constable had all my "property," he said: "Ah, but you might have some tobacco. He commanded me to take off my boots, and duly tapped them on the ground in order to make quite sure that no deadly tobacco was therein concealed. Even the lining of my hat was turned inside out. Then he took me to the bathroom and ordered me to take off my clothes. He spoke as some people do to their inferiors. A bucket of hot water was brought by a young man whose closely-cropped hair and prison garb indicated his position, and I enjoyed an excellent bath in the presence of the warder. While I was still naked I was examined to see whether I had any marks about me, but not even a mole could be found. This seemed to distress the young gentleman, and be anxiously inquired whether I had no tattoo marks, or anything. Considering I was at this time as nude as when I made my first appearance on this troubled planet, I certainly thought the question superfluous. (To be continued.) -Evening Star, 2/1/1889.
"THE VAGRANT" IN DUNEDIN GAOL.
FOURTEEN DAYS’ HARD LABOR. ( Continued.)
LAVATION. Next morning, again aroused by the bell, I was ready when the visit was paid, breakfasted as usual in the cell, and again fell in. One thing was repugnant to my feelings. People of ordinary habits of cleanliness prefer to wash before breakfast, and do not prefer having it in a room which has been occupied all night and not aired. Neither is the presence of a fetid night-can conducive to a hearty appetite. Yet such is the rule in the gaol. This morning was also wet, and although we went to the Gardens early it was impossible to work outside except for short intervals. We were made comfortable in the workshop. An oil drum made a capital fire box, and we basked in the genial warmth — when we were not anathematising the smoke.
OCCUPATION. Next day the weather was much better, and I, having shown some practical skill, was deputed to make and erect a gate for temporary use alongside the Water of Leith. This I found much more congenial work than mechanically sawing wood, and was fortunate enough to earn the praises of our kind warder.
ELEVATION. The next day being Saturday we discontinued work at noon, and had our dinner in the gaol. Much to my pleasure I found my quarters had now been changed, consequent probably on the expected arrival of the labor gang from the Heads, who also return to the gaol every Saturday afternoon. My belongings had been removed to No. 17, a cell upstairs, fitted with three wooden stretchers. It had a much larger window, which I could open and close, and from its elevation I could see the yard below and the masts of the shipping at the wharves close by. Here my dinner was brought to me, and shortly afterwards we again assembled in the yard. This was for the purpose of being bathed and supplied with clean clothes. My turn duly came. I found a plentiful supply of warm water (from a tap this time) and a large clean jack towel. At this time I was again searched for marks, and my height and weight were taken. My true weight will never be known from the gaol books, unless they know how much tare to allow for those boots.
COMMUNICATION. On this afternoon, also, I saw (much to my pleasure) the gaol chaplain, Mr Torrance. I shall have something more to say of Mr Torrance in due order. I must confess that my desire to see him arose chiefly from selfish motives. The fact that I was sentenced to fourteen days instead of seven interfered with certain private arrangements I had made, and also left those dear to me entirely in the dark about my movements. I could not well exercise the privilege of writing allowed to a newly incarcerated prisoner, because the gaoler inspects all letters outward and inward, and it rests with him whether they reach their destination or not. To have written would have betrayed my identity to Mr Phillips, which I was yet anxious to avoid, so I resolved to ask Mr Torrance to communicate for me. This I thought he could do without in any way imperilling his fealty to the regulations, as he need not necessarily have been informed of the whole of the circumstances. On Wednesday morning I asked to see the chaplain, as provided in my card of rules. The warder said he would communicate with the gaoler on the subject. Between that time and Saturday I asked several times, and on Friday I became more imperative in my demand, and threatened to complain to the gaoler. The warder assured me I would see the chaplain on Saturday afternoon without fail, and so it turned out. But I was dreadfully anxious, for I feared that I should be sent off to the Heads on Monday morning, and so be deprived of all means of communication for a whole week. As I anticipated, Mr Torrance proved the true friend his nature and vocation proclaimed him to be, and I have the greatest pleasure in thus recording my thanks.
DESIGNATION. After our bath and the other business we were again remanded to our cells, and soon a considerable bustle intimated that the contingent from the Heads had "come home.” The advent of a new prisoner did not long escape those who occupied the same landing as myself, for outside my door was affixed a card having inscribed on it John Jenkins; fourteen days’ hard labor; larceny of a coat; date of sentence 11/12/88.
VISITATION. Some little time afterwards my door was suddenly thrown open, and revealed the gaoler dressed in his best. He called me to attention, and asked: “Are there any complaints?” The question was put in that form which expects a negative, so neatly conveyed in Latin by the affix ne. Two gentlemen, however, accompanied Mr Phillips, I was not told who they were, and would have supposed them to be visiting Justices had I not recognised them as Sir Harry Atkinson and the Hon. T. Fergus. Of course I had no complaints to make to them, but I tbink I ought to have been apprised of the identity of the gentlemen.
VENTILATION. Next day was Sunday, and we enjoyed the privilege of an extra hour in bed, not being called on to rise till seven o’clock. On this occasion I was up, dressed, folded my bedding, and had nearly finished my breakfast at a quarter past seven. Remember, I had been in my cell since about three o’clock the previous afternoon, and it was ten this morning before I was allowed to leave it, no matter how urgent might have been my need. No wonder I was glad to open the window.
CONVERSATION AND RENOVATION. When we reached the yard I was now among the whole male inmates of the prison — that is, all but the one or two who were engaged about inside work, such as cooking and cleaning. Many of the faces were familiar to me, as I had “assisted” at either their trial or preliminary examination in my reportorial capacity. Conversation was unrestricted, and I had a long talk with Gleeson before I was reminded by a warder that we were not allowed to speak to the "trial men.” At intervals during the morning a warder called out: “Anyone want to see the doctor? Anyone want to see Mr Ronaldson?” (it being the day of that gentleman’s two-monthly visit) “Anyone want to see the gaoler?” Each question elicited several affirmatives, and while they were being attended to the others took their baths in batches of three at a time. I do not mean in the bath itself, but they left for the bathroom in that order. I heard much complaining this morning of there being no towels to be had in the bathroom. One man said he had been for five months in gaol, and had never yet had a towel after his bath, but was compelled to use his dirty shirt, as did all the others. This matter was the subject of a formal complaint to the gaoler on the following Sunday, we were now all supplied with sundry clean clothes not served out on the previous day. Them were a cap, a handkerchief, and "tucker” bag. The underclothing is changed fortnightly — the flannel on Sunday and drawers the next. Curiosity and the exercise of my vocation led me to converse with almost all the prisoners. Not one was reluctant to speak of the offence which brought him there, and not one expressed regret for what he had done. What did cause regret was some fatal flaw in the defence, some laches of the lawyer, or the bad faith of some confederate. One man boasted that he "had” (Anylice) stole a hundred and twenty-three pounds just previously, and was after all doing "threepenn’orth” for a bit of a watch.
INFORMATION. Their willingness to fall into conversation with me was due to their desire to bear news from outside; but as I had now been nearly a week in gaol most of them were as well posted as I. Notwithstanding the stringency of the rule that no one shall convey news to those “inside,” as gaol is called, intelligence travels wonderfully fast. On the Saturday after Gleeson’s escape we all knew it before the boat reached Port Chalmers on our way home from the Heads. To some I was pleased to be able to convey news about their acquaintances or friends, and they repaid me in prison information. Those men who are serving a sentence of three years or more are called “penal” men, and wear a distinguishing dress of knickerbockers and black stockings with two gaudy red bands.
CIRCULATION. During the morning the librarian - also a prisoner — brought out the books and laid them on a form in order that prisoners might make their selection for the ensuing week. From what I saw I should judge the library to be in a sad state. I did not see one perfect book, and the bulk of them were ‘Good Words,’ ‘Leisure Hour.’ ‘Chambers’s Miscellany.’ etc. etc. - all of them at least twenty years old. There is a pocket set ot the Waverley novels, and a few books on ‘Natural History,’ but anything like systematic reading I should judge to be impossible. Each prisoner who desires is supplied with a slate and pencil and a sum or other book, but there is no teaches.
ORNAMENTATION. During the morning those who had the needful skill performed the kindly office of barber for the others. No razors are allowed, but some are such adepts with the scissors that they can clip off whiskers nearly as closely as if shaved. The rules enjoin that the whiskers and moustachios shall be kept, short unless the doctor permit their growth.
CONSULTATION. And speaking of the doctor reminds me of the surprise I felt at so many seeking his assistance. Out of the twenty-six of us who were at the Heads, no less than six had prescriptions. Among the same number of working men “outside,” probably none would have been ailing. Part of the illness may be exaggerated because the advice is cheap, and perhaps it may be the case that the dietary scale is so nicely adjusted to support life, and no more, that men are more susceptible to illness. On this latter point I shall not venture an opinion. To my surprise, my name was called out in the yard, and I was told to go and see the doctor. I said I did not want to see the doctor, but I was told he wanted to see me — and in I went. It transpired that he is supposed to examine every new arrival, but that on his visit on the Friday previous I was at the Gardens. The examination now imposed was of the most superficial character, I was merely asked whether I had anything wrong with me, and I replied in the negative. Then the doctor jocularly asked me what countryman I was, and I told him I was a Scotchman, like himself. He said he had taken me for a foreigner; and there the examination ended. The gaoler is present at all consultations with the doctor, and woe betide the unhappy malingerer.
VERIFICATION. There is one man in the gaol who is suspected of malingering. He is under sentence of six years’ penal servitude for arson, and takes fits. One of these he took on Dunedin wharf, and, of course, attracted a great crowd. He was charged with the offence in open Conut, and received an additional three months. This poor fellow complains that he is unjustly treated, and made known his case to me. He told me that a storekeeper in Southland, with whom I am acquainted, was aware that he was subject to fits several years ago, having repeatedly pulled him off the road while under their influence. He asked me whether I would communicate with this gentleman on my release, and cause him to write to the gaoler stating what he knew, which would exonerate the culprit from the charge of shamming. Of course I promised to comply, but my faith in the man’s truth was considerably shaken a few days afterwards when he asked me not to do as I had promised, it being the gaoler’s duty to do so. I observed that he told every new arrival the same story, which confirmed my unbelief. Meanwhile, as a corrective, he gets every morning a cold douche with a bucket of water on his naked form, and administered by the hands of a warder, and under this gentle treatment has now no fits. One morning it was rather cold, and he tried to beg off his bath, but the warder was inflexible, and the doctor’s orders stringent, so he got it as usual, and shortly after came in to breakfast blue and shivering.
EXHORTATION. At twelve o’clock we regained our cells, and were served with dinner. Sunday brought no variety in the food. At two o’clock we were all again turned into the yard, and walked about till three, when we fell in for divine service. Those of us who were Catholics went off to their own clergyman; the balance went to the chapel Only some half-dozen — of whom Gleeson was one —appeared to be Catholics. Before going into chapel we were duly searched, and also after we came out. I found the chapel to be that subterraneous building next the Castle street frontage. We descended a stairway and found ourselves in the one half of the room, the other part being partitioned off for the use of the females. As soon as we were seated, a rustling of clothes and sound of footsteps indicated that the females had entered their compartment by another door. Then by the same which we entered by came the clergyman — I do not know his name — accompanied by a yonng gentleman who was to play the organ. What struck me most about the organist was the miraculously neat adjustment of his hair and the appallingly exact fit of his tie. I am open to make a wager that the parting of the hair was mathematically in the middle. The hymn was one of Sankey’s collection — ‘Gathering in the Sheaves.’ We sang it lustily, only I am afraid a good many sang the parody, 'Gathering in the thieves,’ as being more germane to the occasion. We had several splendid basses, and among the females on the other side of the strictly opaque partition we could hear at least a couple of good female voices. The Gospel was from John ix., and after another hymn and a prayer, the sermon was on the miracle of healing the blind man. The chief point of the sermon was on the contrast between the prudence of all the blind man’s friends when under cross-examination by the priests, and their unwillingness to vouch for the divine character of the healing, and the spontaneous gratitude of the man with his sight restored, even though he showed it at the risk of being socially ostracised and religiously excommunicated. The sermon was attentively listened to, and at the conclusion of the service we were ordered by Mr Phillips, who attended and had led the singing, to stand up while the minister and his neophite made their exit. Then we sat down until the females “over on the other side” had also gone, and we shortly afterwards re-entered the exercise yard. We were again searched and then marched off to our cells. Tea was served almost immediately, the roll called a few minutes afterwards, and then we were locked up for the night. I found my new quarters much more comfortable than the vault I had vacated, which causes me still to wonder why I was put into such a hole at all.
NAVIGATION. I had learned that on Monday mornings an unusually early start was made, in order that the Heads men might leave for their work, and I was not misled. At twenty minutes to five the bell rang, and the striking of the hour saw breakfast almost over. This done, we vacate our cells, and go through the routine of washing ourselves, etc. So expeditiously was all this done that we had fallen in, been searched, and were half-way to the wharf by a quarter to six on the Colonial Bank clock. Our party, twenty-six in number, flanked by warders, each armed with a truncheon, a revolver, and a pair of handcuffs, and attended by the gaoler, made its way to the cross-wharf, where the steam launch Gordon awaited us. A party of' four had preceded us with our provisions on the gaol truck. A stiff gale was blowing from the southward, and as soon as we got out into the fairway the waves were unusually large for so small a harbor. Luckily, wind and tide were in our favor, and such of us as so desired remained below out of the weather. For my own part I remained on deck in order to enjoy what to me is a rare treat under almost any circumstances — namely, a pleasant sail. At any rate, it was more comfortable on deck than in the crowded hold, heated to a high point by the proximity of the boiler. Nothing of any moment happened going down to Port Chalmers. The launch rounded the pier and came alongside the tug Plucky, which was made fast to the wharf, and took on board the lady teacher of the school at Taiaroa Heads. I could not learn the yonng lady’s name, for we, of course, dared not go “abaft the funnel,” or, at least, mix with the more aristocratic officers. The passage down the bay was very rough, and it was found that the launch could not make fast to the temporary jetty erected at the lower end of the beach facing the Maori Kaik owing to the lowness of the tide and the height of the waves. After consultation among the officers, it was determined to steam down to the Head and endeavor to land the boxes of provisions at all events, and, if not possible to land the party, to go back to the Kaik and land there. Meanwhile, the party of Permanent Artillery, who had come to escort us to the works at the Head, could be seen making their way back on the track which has been cut along the hillside from the battery to the jetty already mentioned — about a mile. When we reached the beach at the foot of Taiaroa Head the launch made fast to a mooring buoy, and a boat was put off by the Artillerymen. A successful landing was made, but at the expense of a wetting to nearly all hands. Two or three of the prisoners had been seafaring men, and now particularly distinguished themselves in the management of the boat. One in particular was so much wetted that the ration of bread in the bag hung to his belt got saturated with salt water. When we got to the barracks, he asked for another, but it was refused him, so he at all events had a seven hours fast — from five o’clock to twelve. This is the rule on Monday mornings: —Breakfast — dry bread and tea — at five o’clock, and dinner at twelve. For my part I cannot conceive how any man can be expected to work at all on such treatment.
LEVITATION. As soon as the party was all landed, a contingent of us was told off to carry the boxes and bags of provisions and books up the hill. Part of this work fell to my share of course, for I now recognised that when anything uncomfortable was to be done, “Jenkins” was called for. And the packages are not made convenient for carrying up such a steep hill a distance of fully ten chains. The bread-box in particular could only be carried a few yards by two strong men. Another man and myself fell to carry the meat-box, and. I really never had so tiresome a job in my life. My hands were sore from my week's work at the gardens, and the rope handles of the box hurt very much. But finally the task was surmounted, and all the party assembled in the prisoners’ ward, (To he continued) -Evening star, 4/1/1889.
"THE VAGRANT" IN DUNEDIN GAOL.
Fourteen Days’ hard labor
The morning was so inclement that we could not venture out to work. The barracks at the Head consist of three sides of a square, and each segment of the building is in apearance much like an ordinary country schoolhouse. One wing and an office in another, is occupied by the artillery. Facing them, across the yard, are the kitchen, lavatory, and officers’ quarters, and connecting them the long hall where we, the prisoners, lived, ate, and slept. We were all again carefully searched, and were compelled to take off our boots and put on slippers before entering the ward. Each now put his boots in a certain place, numbered, for his own use, and those who wished were supplied with dry clothes. The ward into which we filed was about forty feet long, and about twenty wide. Down the centre ran a long table flanked with forms. Down both sides were ranged the hammocks — all neatly tied up, and affixed by night to a bar fastened to the wall at one end and on the other to a bar permanently fixed about seven feet from each wall, and running the whole length of the room. Above each occupied hammock was the bedding, all folded in a particular and neat way. At twelve o’clock, as shown by the clock in the yard, we turned out, and were again searched, and then filed in as our names were called, each man receiving his dinner at the kitchen window as he passed. The dinner was placcd in a tin pail for each man. The pail has two compartments — one for the soup and meat, and another for the potatoes. With each was the ration of bread, and at each man’s place at the table was set a flat tin dish about eight inches in diameter, a spoon containing the day’s allowance of salt, and a tin knife. On this particular day the soup was not well cooked, but that was owing to the late hour at which we got ashore. The potatoes were invariably bad, but no one complained, as all recognised that at this time of the year butter could not be easily got. If a prisoner desires to make any complaint he must do so immediately on receiving the article, or he loses his right of appeal. There were not many complaints about the food. The “Missing Link ” complained once about the staleness of the bread, but got no satisfaction. The supply is renewed twice a week, and should a loaf not be fresh on arrival it becomes very dry before the next supply comes. Now, when a man has no lubricant, extremely dry bread is unpalatable; hence the reasonableness of the complaint. Once, also, another man complained about the bitterness of his tea, and was told the matter would be inquired into. It seems to me that it would be more satisfactory to give each man his allowance of sugar, and let him do as he likes with it. It should be mentioned here that another scale of rations provides for eight ounces of oatmeal in lieu of tea and a portion of the bread, but most men prefer the tea. It must be said in justice to the ration scale that the dinner was amply sufficient, and most of the prisoners were able to put away in their bags a part of their meat to be used for tea or breakfast. After dinner two of the prisoners removed the dishes and swept up the room, while the rest squatted about reading or talking. The nicotian weed seemed unusually plentiful on this particular Monday, and this showed that some of the men at least had friends “outside.” Before I left I was instructed in the method by which fresh supplies of tobacco reached the gaol. A prisoner asked me to go to a friend of his and tell him to send half a pound to a person whom he named — I shall not say whom — but the channel is a sure one; nor shall I say whether I complied with the request.
NAVVY-GATION. At one o’clock a party was drafted off to work outside, and about three I heard my name called out with those of five others. We fell in outside, were again searched, and were sent down to the beach to carry some boards up to the works on the summit of the hill. In the face of the gale which was blowing this was no easy task, and the chagrin of our conductor when told they were not wanted after all was very great. I was then given charge of a wheelbarrow, and told to fill it and wheel it up a plank. The stuff which I was wheeling came from an opening, made apparently to drain the circular foundation now being laid for a disappearing gun, right on the summit of the Head and considerably above the lighthouse. Of course it was not my place to make any remark, but I could not help seeing that the drain had not long been filled up, and, comparing our work with that of the sailor who was ordered by the benevolent gentleman to wheel stones to and fro in the garden. But Government work is not conducted like that of private individuals. I found the greatest difficulty in surmounting my plank owing to the gale. When I reached the top a gust would almost blow me over, and made me perform gyrations which that barrow was evidently unused to. I now also became acquainted with the strictness of the discipline. Having occasion to go for a drink to the bucket about ten yards away, I approached it, but the warder told me that when I had occasion to leave my work for any purpose I must first salute the officer and obtain leave. To enforce his authority this one (the chief warder) had a sword, and he had also an auxiliary in the shape of a military sentry, one of whom stood with loaded carbine over each party. When a prisoner left his work by leave of the warder, the latter called out “one ” to the sentry, to signify that leave had been given, otherwise the sentry was supposed to call the prisoner to halt, and, if necessary, to shoot him. I had two hours of this work, when the welcome "Knock off” was heard. Marched down to the barracks we were again searched, put on our slippers, washed ourselves, and filed in for tea. The door of the ward was locked, and under no circumstances could a prisoner be allowed out til morning.
CONSTERNATION. While we were in line this evening two men were called out of the rank, taken to the lavatory, stripped naked, and all their clothing carefully searched. Their downcast faces when they came in for tea indicated that the search had been successful, and I soon elicited that from one had been captured a "chim” (Anglice, chimney, or pipe), and from the other three parts of a plug of tobacco. They were similarly treated on the next night, and tabooed articles were again found in their possession. For the double offence they were reported to the gaoler, and on our return to Dunedin on Saturday were solemnly tried by him, and sentenced to solitary confinement in dark cells on bread and water. They each served seventeen hours of this, and were further to be reported to the visiting Justices. The nickname for the dark cell is the "digger,” but I could not ascertain the meaning of the word.
DIFFERENTIATION. At twenty minutes to eight the bell rang, giving the signal to make beds. Each man lashed up his hammock and folded the blankets on it in a particular way, so that as much blanket was below him as above. This is the only way to sleep warmly in a hammock. I don’t know whether it was by accident or design, but while others had five pairs of excellent blankets, all of the same size and color. I had a mixed lot of thin ones of different sizes. Hence I never could make as neat a bundle of my bedclothes as the others; but I was not punished for it. At eight o’clock tho silence bell rang, and we were handed over to the custody of the night watchman. That functionary, ostentatiously armed with a revolver, walked round the ward and counted heads, thus becoming responsible for that number in the morning. But previous to this, those who were to get medicine had it handed to them through a pigeon hole communicating with the officers’ quarters. The night watchman was accompanied by a warder, sometimes the chief, armed with the inevitable sword.
OSTENTATION. I verily believe that gentleman slept with his sword; he fondled it all day — that is, when he was not extricating it from between his legs. It is a postulate, or a thing taken for granted, that the shorter the man the longer the sword, and the greater the frequency of its entanglements.
CIRCUM-AMBULATION. As soon as the watchman goes on duty the sentries go off, and he circum-ambulates the building till six next morning. Now, left to ourselves for the night, we soon settled ourselves to sleep, and soon a choice and varied collection of snores testified to the honesty of the day’s work.
AVOCATION. At twenty minutes to six next morning the bell again gave its summons to rise, and in twenty minutes every hammock was rolled up and every parcel of bedding stowed away overhead. At six o’clock the bell again rang, and every man stood to attention at the foot of his sleeping place, and we were duly counted. We then filed out into the yard, were again searched, washed ourselves, and returned to breakfast, each man receiving his ration of bread at the kitchen window, and finding his pannikin of tea on the table with the flat dish to act as a saucer. The routine of the meals never varied, nor did the nature of the food; and we were searched every time we entered or left the ward. On the second day I was with a party detailed to sink a well on the beach below in an endeavor to find fresh water for domestic purposes. The work was very arduous, because the water made so fast that we could only keep it down with difficulty, and it was necessary to try and got to the bottom of the sand in order to secure the shaft against silting up. But we were more lucky than the others in having an agreeable and gentlemanly warder over us, who did not speak to us as if we were dogs, and took care that all equally shared the hardest of the work. On the pathway above us was the ever-present sentry.
RELAXATION. Their duty must be particularly fatiguing, for although we could work all morning on our slender breakfast, yet the sentry had to be relieved. One young gentleman in particular elicited my deepest pity. He was so overcome with fatigue that one day I saw him absolutely compelled to balance his gun on one shoulder - both hands in his trousers pockets — while he sought in a vigorous smoke to obtain that relief which a hard hearted and tyrannical Government denied him.
RENUMERATION. About ten minutes to seven wo could see that No. 2 sentry was called out to occupy a sentrybox overlooking the yard, and every prisoner alertly made for near the door in expectation of the signal to turn out. It almost seemed as if each was anxious to beo first to catch the warder’s eye, and I could easily account for the eagerness. A prisoner’s welfare entirely depends on the good word of the warder. The number of days in the man's sentence is multiplied by six, and the product represents the total number of marks he must earn before his liberation. Six is the lowest scale of marks. If a man is not industrious enough to earn six marks he can be punished for idleness. For a good day’s work eight marks are allowed, while those who are at work at the Heads are allowed ten marks for a good full day’s work because of the special nature of the work. By continual industry a prisoner can shorten his sentence by a fourth, and his sole judge is the warder over him. Hence the anxiety to please. Once a man has got a store of marks ahead he is safely bound, for a breach of the rules may cause him to lose a number of them by fines, and thence his remission of time. A strict rule is made that nothing but a full day entitles to ten marks, so that the bad weather and broken time caused as much dissatisfaction among the prisoners as if they were actually on wages. Those who work in the gardens or in the gaol receive only eight marks, and consequently less remission of sentence.
ASSOCIATION. Our work at the well continued the whole week. As the time wore and I got more familiar with my associates the time between tea time and bed-time passed more pleasantly away. The windows of our ward commanded a splendid view of the harbor and Port Chalmers, and every vessel which passed was known to some one present. Even the names of vessels which are deu are known. When the Plucky arrived with two pilots it was known that one was for the Fifeshire and the other for the Raven, and when that night a foghorn was heard it was known that the former had arrived. One young fellow in particular, doing a big cumulative sentence for imposing on public credulity with a bogus subscription-list, amazed me by his intimate knowledge of shipping as much as by the depth of his depravity. Not that it was lingual depravity — for very little bad language is heard in gaol — but his moral.
NARRATION. For instance, here are nearly his own words: — “I saw an old ‘geiser’ (a muff) along in the Grid, and I saw him through the window with a big roll of notes, I was going to 'have’ (steal) them, and when he went into Mercer’s to pay an account I ‘lamped’ (watched) from outside. Do me, if the blooming boy that carries out the groceries didn’t tell the boss that I had just come out of gaol. Bli me, if he didn’t send for a ‘copper-man’ (policeman) and lock the old Jasper up for being drunk. If the ‘copper-man’ sees me within a mile of a drunk man he nabs me. Bli me, if I didn’t make quick time to Knox Church.”
JUSTIFICATION. But it would be incorrect to say that all the prisoners exult in their crimes, although by far the largest proportion are professional criminals. A gentlemanly old man told me that, having been swindled out of L500 by a Farmers’ Co-operative Association, he got behind, and used some money which did not belong to him but to a municipality of which he was clerk. He intended to replace it of course, but his was no more wilfill theft than was my appriation of the coat. Another, a young man, is being punished for an offence which he intended to commit, but which his temper would not let him complete. He had decoyed a drunken man to a lonely spot for the purpose, and exasperated by resistance struck him on the head with a bottle. His chief regret was that he did not “have” the money. Thus it is with the professional thieves. They play a risky game in which they stand to win easily; if they lose they go to gaol. It is all very well for philanthropists to talk about the unprofitable nature of a criminal’s pursuits. How many nice hauls do they make, how many fearful joys do they snatch without ever being punished for the act? These men are the lineal descendants of Ishmael, and can no more help being thieves than they can breathing. Therefore they are better in gaol, although they work like ______ to get out of it. One young fellow who has spent most of his life in confinement — having been brought up in an industrial school, and having been in several gaols since — openly avowed that he would rather be in gaol than working for a “cockatoo” for 10s a week and found. These men are not built for steady, plodding work of their own free will, but they make excellent workmen under a severe and constant rule — just as the very best soldiers and sailors are manufactured out of London streetarabs. (To be continued.) -Evening Star, 7/1/1889.
"THE VAGRANT” IN DUNEDIN GAOL.
FOURTEEN DAYS’ HARD LABOR. (Concluded.)
INDURATION. On the Wednesday the Gordon paid her usual semi-weekly trip with provisions, and the gaoler, who made his formal inspection. He never spoke to me at all; and in this I have grave ground of complaint, although from an official point of view he may be invulnerable. My wife, who resides down country, became anxious as to my whereabouts, not having heard from me as usual. She traced me to the gaol, even through my assumed name, and inquired there for me on Monday morning, but I was not informed of the fact.
ILLUSTRATION. The insecurity and uncertainty of a prisoner's position were forcibly illustrated this afternoon. When the launch was about to return to Dunedin the names of five prisoners were called, and they were ordered to embark. Where they were going they knew not, and as three of them were "penal ” men it was concluded they were to be sent to Lyttelton. Two of them were in our gang at the well, and we were almost at a standstill until their places were filled. It transpired that they were wanted for some work at the rear of the gaol — at least, four of them were; what became of the fifth no one knew. It may be said that it is not necessary to consult prisoners about their location; but in this case those men suffer a gross injustice, inasmuch as by getting ten marks a day at the Heads they were able to calculate the time of their release. In Dunedin they will only get eight marks a day, and so, after being led to expect a shortened sentence, they find themselves deprived of the concession. On the next Saturday a similar thing was done. A man was taken into the blacksmith’s shop to assist in the work. He replaced one of the five I have mentioned, and had just got into the work and was earning ten marks a day. Then he was detained in town to act as wardsman in the gaol, and would get only eight marks daily, thus lengthening his term of servitude.
EXPLORATION. In the evening Mr Torrance gave his promised lecture to our now diminished band. The subject was the ‘Hot Lake Country of the North Island before the Eruption of Tarawera.’ I had heard the lecture (which was admirably illustrated) before, but what struck me most was the lecturer’s homely way of introducing it. His object, he said, was the threefold one of endeavoring to interest us, to add to our information, and to vary the monotony of our lives. He was very sorry that he had to address us — sorry for the necessity of it — and said it was not the case that he desired to see the gaol full. He alluded to the case of a young man who, when released from gaol, received assistance, and did not fully take advantage of it. Again he sought help, and in a monetary form, and on it being refused he pettishly said that Mr Torrance desired to see all the exprisoners back in gaol again. That was not the case. The lecture was attentively listened to, and loudly applauded at the close. I understand it was delivered the same evening to the settlers in the vicinity. On the neck of land which connects the Head with the Peninsula there is quite a township.
FORTIFICATION. The families of the pilots and boats’ crews, those of the free workmen, and those indigenous to the soil, make quite a little settlement — a settlement, too, boasting of what few of its size can do namely, of the symmetrical arrangement of the houses in straight lines. The works at the Heads are more extensive than are generally supposed. Several guns, including a Nordenfeldt and & 36-pounder muzzleloader, command the entrance, and the new disappearing gun will dominate a wider area. A mantelette provides for the security of a battery to explode torpedoes, and altogether the place presents quite a martial aspect. A winding engine placed half-way up draws up the building material from the beach to the new gun at the summit. And finer building stone could not be got anywhere than on the Head. I can testify to its solidity, for in our odd time we had to carry stone from the quarry on hand-barrows to the nearest point which the tramway touched. At other times we carried sand.
PROSTRATION. Impelled, I must say, largely by the example of the others, I worked as hard as ever I did outside, and each evening found me so exhausted and stiff as to be hardly able to surmount the hill to the barracks. Sly sleep was disturbed by involuntary gleans of pain, so that a Chinaman who slept in the next hammock could not be persuaded that I had not a bad conscience. He is serving a long term for stealing lead, and works in the kitchen. Another of his countrymen is serving six years for a burglary at the Rising Sun in Walker street; and my friend of the Gardens makes the total number of Chinese three.
TOLERATION. My immediate bed neighbor has conformed to the European custom of hair-cutting, but the other two retain their pigtails. Great deference is paid to religious opinions in gaol. A Jew who is there does not work on Saturday, and during his religious festivals is left in Dunedin, and gets his food from outside. While the Chinese are allowed to wear their tails, and the Hebrew to observe his holy days, with singular inconsistency no attention at all is paid to the scruples of Catholics, who would not unless compelled eat flesh on Fridays. At least, no variation is made in their food from that of others, and if that is not compulsion then I don’t know what force is. On the Thursday the Gordon paid us another visit, I began to count the events which had yet to happen before I procured my release, which I expected on the following Monday. Then I would say to myself: “To night will be the last at the Heads,” and so on. At length the blessed last day at the Heads dawned, and now I did not fear. On Saturdays we worked only till noon. We at the well left off our work a little before, and carried down the boxes from the barracks in readiness for the Gordon. After our dinner we fell in and marched round the hills to the jetty we were unable to land at on Monday, all the time carefully guarded by soldiers. As usual poor “Jenkins” was made a flunkey of, being ordered to carry an officer's coat, while others carried the valises and things. It would have been too considerate of these officers to send their things down to the beach with the boxes. They preferred seeing us perspiring in the hot sun with their surplus effects.
RESIGNATION AND MINATION. It was observed that all the warders wore their revolvers openly displayed, and when the news of Gleason's escape was bruited about the boat I placed the two facts together. But, bless you! none of us wanted to escape. For my own part, although I knew nothing would be easier than for a smart man to escape, it takes a very smart man to stay away, and I was not fool enough to risk it with only another day to serve, I have still to make the attempt, so that Messieurs of the Prisons Department will please take fair warning.
EVACUATION. The routine of this Saturday afternoon was the same as on the previous one. Our attention was largely occupied by the evidences of Gleeson’s escape, and he was not then recaptured. Almost everyone with whom I spoke expressed a whispered wish that he would be able to keep away. The broken plaster dislodged by his exit from the window still remained on the floor of the yard, and the 20ft plank by which he had surmounted the wall was still unfastened on its blocks. The opening in his window after the removal of the bar would give a diagonal measurement of more than fifteen inches, quite enough for a person of Gleeson’s lithe build. The prisoners were all sorry to hear that the blame lay impliedly on Connor, the night watchman, who was then suspended from night duty. But even if he constantly walked the rounds, and inspected the court yard every round, he would be at least ten minutes away at the women's quarter, and his approach could be heard all over the gaol. He ought to have been provided with rubber soled boots. The wonder is not that Gleeson cut the bars of his window, for that trick is older than Jack Sheppard, but that he could raise the twenty feet plank without making enough noise to excite an alarm. The escape was more daring than skilful. Radka’s escape from Invercargill was infinitely more clever. Its manner was detailed to me by one who was a fellow prisoner. The inspector had ordered the cell doors should be to open inwards, and that each should be provided with an indicator, which stood in a certain position when the door was locked. The indicator fits on a square bolt like an ordinary door knob. Radka obtained possession of a spoon and broke the bowl off. Then on the wall he sharpened the shank and made it like a screwdriver. He then altered the position of the indicator so that it falsified the position of the bolt inside. On the night of his escape he officiously closed several doors on his way to his own, and as every prisoner is enjoined to close his door on entering or leaving his cell, the warder supposed all to be right. But he tried them nevertheless, Radka holding his rigidly and making it appear locked. The rest was easy. Once in the court yard the wall offered no obstacle to an active man. The manner in which he hoodwinked the police, and finally surrendered himself in their very hall of justice, had a satirical aspect, which must have mortified them exceedingly. Radka was brought to Dunedin with the other prisoners condemned at Invercargill. His face is a clean cut and pleasing one, and anything but of criminal type. He has as yet committed no criminal act except escaping from custody, but will probably emerge from his present company ripe for any mischief, and with his talent will be a formidable foe to the police. Accompanying him from Invercargill were several other prisoners — one for three years for the most recent of a series of robberies from the person; one for eighteen months for larceny, the culmination of a long record of month’s imprisonments; and one for ten years for shooting with intent. The last-mentioned is now the “father” of the gaol — that is, he has the longest sentence of any there. Before he came my friend of the arson-and-fits celebrity was the longest, with his six years and three months. The ten years' man is well advanced in years, and is, from long illness and repeated surgical operations, only a shadow of the man he was when he was the best fighter among a crowd of thirty employed at Morton Mains (Southland). The routine of this afternoon was thus agreeably diversified by all this new matter for discussion, and we trooped off to our cells at the usual hour.
INDIGNATION. Next morning, in response to the usual question “Anyone want to see the gaoler?” two held up their hands out of about a dozen, who had agreed jointly to represent the matter of the towels. The regulations say that a prisoner shall be supplied with a clean towel weekly as part of his kit, and inquiry into the matter was promised. One of the complainers was a comrade at the well. He had been a seafaring man, and holds a master’s coasting certificate. Having foolishly gone “on the spree” he negotiated a number of small cheques with spurious signatures, and singularly enough I spent a night in Invercargill last June searching for him in company with Detective Ede. He was finally captured on board a cutter at the Bluff. His case is noteworthy, because it is one showing the occasional preponderance of the criminal instinct in spite of great natural intelligence and a good education. He must have known in his sane moments that to forge a few small cheques of a couple of pounds each was utter madness, and yet he did it; and this is not the first time, either. The number of forgers in gaol is proportionately large. The facility with which this crime can be committed, because of the general looseness in the matter of cheques, is counter-balanced by the certainty and quickness of detection, and yet otherwise intelligent men frequently commit the offence. One of this class I found at the Heads one evening engrossed in Algebra, and was pleased to be able to assist him in the formulation of a number of equations.
CONGREGATION. The usual number wont to see the doctor, the Catholics visited their priest, and even the Chinese attended their catechist’s audience. We, the orthodox, on the other hand, had our religious symposium in the afternoon, when Mr Torrance preached. The arrangement was the same as on other Sundays, only I missed my exceedingly dapper little organist. The men awaiting trial sat on a bench by themselves. The portion of Scripture chosen for reading was that Psalm with the refrain “For His mercy endureth for ever”; and its beauties were well enunciated by the reader. The sermon was from one of the Epistles to the Corinthians, the concluding verse of the chapter where the Apostle suddenly breaks off his commendation with the ejaculation: “Thanks be to God for His unbreakable gifts.” The unspeakable gifts alluded to were partly enumerated, and a very sensible and practical sermon skilfully adapted to the present festive season. About the sincerity of Mr Torrance there can be no possible doubt. The deep-set black eyes become actually luminous with the internal force of character. Only one person ventured to speak slightingly of him at the Heads, and that the most worthless, I believe, in the whole gaol. I now returned to my cell for the last time, and next morning I arose with the rest at twenty minutes to five. Far in the night many of us were disturbed by an unusual commotion down stairs. The telephone bell rang, and shortly afterwards the sound of numerous footsteps was heard. When we assembled in the yard next morning the intelligence quickly but secretly spread that Gleeson was again a prisoner, and that he was confined in a punishment cell, No. 6, next one to that from which he had escaped. This cell is almost a dark one, there being over the stout glass not a grating but a sheet of zinc perforated with small holes. At a later stage we who were waiting in the corridor saw the warders taking to this cell a fresh kit of clothes for the use of the prodigal.
LIBERATION. As I was not going to the Heads I was deputed one of the party to cart the provisions down to the truck. Even the fact that this was my last morning did not produce any kinder tones from the warders, who it almost seemed were determined to create a bad impression on me. On our return from the whaif with the empty truck, which we placed in the backyard, we passed the spot where Gleeson jumped down, easily recognisable by traces of blood, and then I was sent with several others, who could not go to work on account of the rain, to a cell on the ground floor. Here I remained till half-past ten, when I was ordered to come forth and reassume my own clothes. I had to strip in one cell, the counterpart of my first abode, and walk across the corridor naked to where my own garments were. When I had blushed them and put them on, I was led forth and again searched. Then I was taken to the office, and signed a receipt for my valuable property. I received a gratuity of 2s with my own ll 1/2d; but by some process of alchemy my 11 1/2d had got converted into 1s, so that I received 3s and lost my lucky 1d. Before I went out the chief warder asked me somewhat sneeringly when I was coming back again, and I replied that he would see in a day or two the reason of my present coming. He said loftily that they had all sorts of people there, kings and kaisers and all. So I left him, still fondling that long sword, and was again a free man.
SUMMATION. And now, should I be asked my impression of fourteen days’ hard labor, I should reply that it is very gloomy, and not at all in a reformative direction. The evident contempt of the officers for the prisoners, the knowledge of my degraded associations, and the fear of possible future misconception made me frequently regret that I had sounded this abyss of crime. I hope I have now disposed of the statement which has been made that my purpose was detected the moment I entered the gaol, and that I was at once sent off to the Heads in order to be kept out of the way. I have seen both the inside and the outside workings, and have recorded what I saw, quite conscious of my obligation to tell “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” -Evening Star, 8/1/1889.
The 'Southern Standard' writes: — a gentleman, writing under the nom de plume of "The Vagrant," in the 'Dunedin Star,' has been distinguishing himself. First of all he pretended to be drunk, and was locked up all night in the Dunedin Police cell; next, he pretended to be poor, and passed a night in the Dunedin Benevolent Insiitution. He then pretended to be mad, and was committed to Seacliff Asylum, from which he got free in a day or two. Lastly, be pretended to steal a ooat from an hotel, and got 14 days, with hard labour, in the Dunedin Gaol. What he saw and said in all these places he has communicated to the 'Star'; it is satisfactory to learn that he found nothing very dreadful in any of the places. If rumour be true, "The Vagrant" is not altogether unkuown in Gore. What will he do next? We would suggest that he pretend to murder somebody, in order to see what hanging is like. -Bruce Herald, 8/1/1889.
An Eye For Everything
by "Cyclops"
Whilst referring to Dunedin I am constrained to observe that "The Vagrant" — evidently an old Gore friend — must be breaking up in his efforts to do justice to gaols and asylums and what not. At any rate his Latin is getting into much the same state as the French of the gentleman on the 'Otago Daily Times' who recently gate such a severe shock to an innocent stranger from Gallic shores. "The Vagrant," should this meet his eye, will pardon my reminding him that in Latin the "affix ne" never indicated that a questioner expected an answer in the negative. When I was at school "nonne" was used when an affirmative reply was expected and "num" when one anticipated the answer "No." I only offer this as some slight salve to the injured feelings of wardens, sentries etc., who have suffered from the pen of Mr Joseph Jenkins, and at the same time Joseph will forgive me for drawing his attention to an error of a sort which, to do him justice, he does not often make. -Mataura Ensign, 11/1/1889.
UP IN A BALLOON WITH BALDWIN.
[By The Vagrant.]
It had long been the dearest wish of my life to go up in a balloon. I longed to emulate the king of birds, which alone dares to look unblinkingly on the God of Day, and soars in the empyrean far above any puny competitor. Every other method of risking my life and tasting a new sensation had been tried by me. I had penetrated the bowels of the earth, and in the gloomiest recesses of Australian mines had bidden farewell to day in the auri sacra fames. I had been down below the surface of the sea in a diving bell — that invention which lay alongside the Pelichet Bay jetty years ago, and which was to revolutionise sub-aqueous mining. I have recently penetrated the haunts of vice, disease, and misfortune, and I felt that I was destined for still greater things. Therefore, when Professor Baldwin courteously offered me a seat beside him in his projected ascent, I eagerly accepted the offer. The professor was sorry he could not also accommodate me with a share of his parachute for the purpose of descent, for, as he sadly said, it was only built for one, and he had no wish to be my companion in a still lower journey than to the surface of the earth, but I might if I chose remain with the balloon after he jumped off and bring it to earth. "But," I said with trepidation, "you will have all the fun, and I all the other thing." "Not at all, stranger," said Mr Baldwin. "You see, when I leave the balloon I open a seam, and she collapses gradually. The final collapse usually takes place at some height from the ground. Now, with your weight acting upon the diminished volume of gas, she will begin to sink the moment I leave you, and you will descend almost as rapidly, but perhaps not quite so gracefully, as I." As these were the best terms available, I had no other course than to accept, for all my persuasive powers could not prevail on the professor to change places with me. My preconception of a balloon ascent was that it was something connected with a basket, with a plentiful supply of tinned food and barometers, cordials and stethoscopes, bands of music, and a general farewell. I had no idea of becoming a kind of glorified male Zazel, or an etherealised Leotard, sitting like a human cockatoo, with nothing between me and mother earth but a puny swing, without any back-rest. But yet, with a temerity that I shall not cease to marvel at to my dying day, I consented. The preparations for our joint aerial journey were soon under way. The gas being laid on, the inert mass of silk began to heave and throb and distend itself like some monster awakening from a long hibernation. The crowd of curious spectators around became denser and denser, and I could feel myself the object of many wondering glances and of ejaculations, probably made by some student of the Ingoldsby legends, of "That's him!" But nothing could divert me from my purpose. Even the pitying looks of one particularly matronly person, who I was certain was saying to herself "Losh me, what a pair o' fules," did not deter me, and our preparation went on. I was instructed by my kind mentor to take off all my upper garments, and further advised how to proceed when up in the air. I was not to hold on to him at all, but to pass my arm round his back, and hold on to the sides of the swing, leaving him free to make his leap when ready. Then I had nothing to do but to sit steady and do nothing. "Only," he said, "if you strike the top of a house or a chimney hang on there and sing out for a ladder; you will be all right." By this time, the worthy professor had divested himself of his pot hat and long coat, and stood revealed in a closely fitting black suit, which displayed his athletic form to the fullest advantage. I now glanced nervously at the state of the weather. An evening breeze had sprung up, and the waters of the bay were flecked with white crested waves. But above the filmy clouds were lazily floating, thus showing that our wind was purely local. "Aha," I thought, "Mistress Cloud, I shall soon disturb your misty equanimity." Mr Baldwin noted the apprehensive glance I had given to the bay, and, being beside me, felt my pulse. Not a flutter betrayed any agitation I may have inwardly felt; not the slightest acceleration betokened fear. "You're grit," said he, admiringly. "We shall have you doing this parachute biz yourself some day." From that moment I felt reassured. His confidence had been imparted to me. All this time the silken spheroid was developing itself, and ever and anon it would shake itself like an impatient steed. The crowd surrounding the enclosure were more and more compact, and more and more intent upon the scene. The adjacent heights of Montecillo and Caversham Rise were deeply fringed with human beings, all sharing the general eagerness to see two men take their lives in their own hands. All being now nearly ready, and the ponderous globe madly struggling for liberty, the professor mounted a stand and made a short speech. I did not hear a word he said, so eager was I with anticipation. Meanwhile the sand bags which sufficed to hold the balloon down were detached, and the numerous ropes which formerly held them were taken by men and extended to their full length. Now was revealed the contrivance in which we were to sit, and I was gaily told to secure a seat. The professor then bade adieu to his wife. I am a married man myself, so I knew the details. He then took his seat beside me, and called out "Let go." For a moment the balloon poised itself as if doubtful yet of its freedom, and then shot straight up into the air. The sensation was not that we were rising, but that the earth below us was receding. A tingling in my ears and a sinking sensation in my stomach testified to the great speed we were rising at. But, withal, there was a sense of exhilaration, of boundless joyousness and power of flight, which soon held sway over all other feelings. I now looked down, and saw the crowds we had left but a moment before, seeming like irregular inky blots upon the mottled surface of the earth. The sinuous length of the harbor lay like a newly-thrown-down girdle of old silver, and the ships on its surface seemed from this new point of observation like so many toys. To our right lay the ocean, shimmering in the declining sun, and fringed with a thin irregular line of white surf. Inland, the fertile Taieri Plain could be seen, and it appeared almost immediately below us, so completely had my ideas of perspective become confused. But I remember observing how nearly it resembled a checker board, with its rectangular divisions of fields, and their alternations of light and dark green. And another curious illusion was that all the surface of the earth below seemed flat. At this elevation one gains a wider horizon, and loses in a measure the effect of the earth's rotundity. Single people seemed like insects, and animals like larger ones. All these impressions were gained in the space of a moment, when our balloon poised itself as if hesitating which course to take. An aeronaut has generally something else to do besides admiring the landscape. We were now about 2,000ft high, the professor said; and he calculated it was about time to step down. He gathered to himself the ring of his parachute and said "Good bye; take care of yourself," and then leaped off. He did not stop to shake hands. For a second, the balloon, relieved of half its pendent weight, shot upward, (as I could feel by a renewed tightening of the chest, but I could plainly hear the whistling of the escaping gas above me, and feel the relaxing of the cords. The same act which detached the parachute from the side of the balloon also opened a means of egress for the gas. I had the curiosity to look down to see how my late companion fared. At first he shot away from me like a plummet. Then our relative positions changed, for my balloon held on its wind-borne course, while he descended almost perpendicularly. Gradually the bottom end of the folded bag to which he was hanging began to flutter at the edges. Next the parachute assumed the appearance of a huge old fashioned brush and comb bag inverted, then it gracefully expanded itself into umbrella shape, and the daring athlete alighted like a bird fair into the middle of a grassy quarter-acre section. It seemed about time to attend to my own affairs. The earth seemed now to advance towards me. My former sensations were reversed. All the blood in my body seemed to be rushing to my head, and I felt so giddy that I almost let go. Much to my alarm my speed seemed to be increasing, and I began to look for a soft place to fall. The volume of gas in the balloon had now sensibly diminished, and huge wrinkles began to appear on its quilted sides. Still we rushed downward, and I now felt so giddy and sick that I lost all anxiety as to the result. Recollect I was still sitting in the swing, as I did not dare to change my position. All that I remember further was that the earth seemed to come at me with a final rush, and it struck me with such violence on that part of my body most exposed to attack that I was dislodged from my seat and lay panting on the ground. The balloon, freed from my weight, made another ineffectual bound, but sank in the effort, and lay gasping and heaving beside me. At this interesting juncture I awoke and found myself on the floor in the most undignified of attitudes and a most alarming condition of nudity. -Evening Star, 23/1/1889.
THE CAVERSHAM INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.
[By The Vagrant.]
That most fickle thing, public favor, has concentrated its attention upon the Industrial School at Look-out Point, and the institution, under Mr Titchener's management, has for a considerable period enjoyed the pleasant, if somewhat precarious, position of a popular pet. There are very few men among us who do not hold, or have not held at some period of their existence, some of those honorary guardianships of public institutions which our system of local self-government so plentifully bestows. Take Princes street any afternoon, and seven out of every ten men you meet are, or have been, members of some school committee, licensing committee, municipal council, or something else. Ask any one of them how such and such an institution, whichever it may be that he happens to be connected with, is getting on, and you will infallibly receive the reply that things are going on quietly, since nothing is ever heard about it. It is a maxim that so long as nothing is heard of the movements of the parts the whole machine must be running smoothly. The Industrial School at Caversham offers a marked contrast to this rule. The frequency with which it is mentioned in the public prints, the minuteness of detail with which its doings are persistently described, seem to challenge criticism and invite investigation. The reporter, esurient for a paragraph, can always rely upon an item about the school; while occasionally some one of that class, more daring — because more ignorant — than his peers, launches out into a three-column description of mush, clothed in slipshod English and reeking with fulsome adulation. The itinerant lecturer finds there a resting place for the sole of his foot, and a docile and tractable audience, followed in due course by the usual complimentary paragraph; the magic lantern fiend truculently displays his chamber of horrors to an uncomplaining and meek audience, and his effort is followed in due course by the usual complimentary paragraph; some philanthropic pastrycook forwards a case of buns — lo! the donation is duly acknowledged; in short, the little waifs and strays whom an adverse fate has left stranded high and dry on the slopes of Look-out Point have been feted, "improvingly entertained," and paragraphed so much that we run a big risk of converting them into a set of juvenile Chadbands, and of inculcating into them a belief that their sojourn in the school is something of which they should be proud.
Bearing these circumstances in mind, and duly considering them from a Press experience now somewhat extended, I paid a visit to the Industrial School the other day, quite prepared to keenly criticise whatever I saw there. In such a frame of mind I walked up from Caverßham, and, having climbed the long acclivity, essayed to enter by the first gate to which I came. The attempt was a failure, for I was deterred by the extreme state of dilapidation into which the structure had been allowed to fall. In fact, it seemed more suggestive of "man traps and spring guns" than the portal to an institution said to be a model of its kind. A further investigation, however, showed a more imposing gateway, and I soon found myself treading the carriageway leading to the buildings. I had not seen the institution for many years. The large brick building which was then the main one is now a mass of ivy, and much has been done all around in the way of improvement. Looking about me as I emerged from the shrubbery, I observed someone sitting at the corner of one of the large buildings in the centre. He had a gun across his knees, and was gazing intently along the side of the building. For one brief moment I thought the career of "The Vagrant" was in imminent danger of being suddenly and ignominiously closed, and that I was destined to fall a victim to my self-imposed obligation to tell the public how things are carried on. I cautiously approached the figure, and it was not until I had tapped him on the shoulder that I was observed. When the face was turned towards me the expression I saw there was the reverse of fierce, and I saw at once I was in the presence of the "master." I presented my letter of introduction, which contained a request that I should be accorded facilities for obtaining information, and the reply was "Certainly." I then amusedly asked Mr Titchener what he intended doing with the gun, and the sententious reply was "rats." There is a covered drain at the side of the building, and an ancient and artful rat periodically emerges from it in quest of food, but always evades capture. The time of my visit was the mid-day interval, and the children, or such of them as I could see, were amusing themselves, but in a quiet decorous manner, the very antithesis of what would have been seen at the same time in a district school yard. In a few moments, and while we were chatting about things in general, a diminutive urchin stepped forward and sounded the assembly on a bugle. The boys fell in in sections, were put to the right-about, and marched into the dining room, each one saluting the master as he passed. Whenever any boy passes the master he salutes him a la militaire. The girls had been assembled in a different part of the ground, and all the inmates now met in the dining room to the number of 116, seventy-eight of whom were boys. The dining room, in itself a shabby structure, was as clean as could be, and the comestibles and plates were arranged at the head of the tables just as they would be in a working man's home. The dinner consisted of soup, meat, and bread, and those at each table were attended by one of the older boys, who officiated in the place of a carver. Before operations were commenced, however, all stood up and sang grace. The low ceiling of the room had been decorated with gaudy festoons of ribbon work, the children were all clean and respectably dressed, and their song of thanksgiving for the food of which they were about to partake had a pleasant and hearty ring about it. I was invited to taste the food, which I did, and found it extremely palatable. The only noticeable want was that of potatoes. I asked whether they got the same dinner every day, and I was told that next day they would receive meat and vegetables and potatoes. "On Fridays they get rice out of deference to the Catholics," I was told. This led me to inquire what proportion of the children were Catholics, and those of that faith were requested by the master to stand up. Twenty-three responded to the call. In order, I suppose, not to seem invidious, those of the Church of England were asked to rise, and every one of the rest promptly got up. Polemical differences evidently do not trouble the youngsters, who seemed to recognise only the broad distinction between Protestant and Catholic. There was ample food, and the meat seemed of good quality. Certainly the bread was not of the whitest, and in the piece I tasted there was an undue amount of salt; but the latter fault may have been due to accident, and the former, many would not consider a fault at all. I may mention, by the way, that I have learned since I visited the gaol that some bakers are in the habit of making several qualities of bread, and that the staff of life intended for use in institutions supplied by contract is not the delicately white and toothsome bread to which we are accustomed in private life. It may be better from a dietetic point of view than white bread, but nobody can say it is so nice. There was a podgy little fellow at the end of one of the tables, whose pleasure derived from eating was unmistakable. Plateful after plateful of meat and bread disappeared, until, with a sigh of content, he gave up the contest. Like Sam Weller's lady friend, he kept "wisibly swellin'" until his skin rivalled that of a drum in tightness, and that of a rosy apple in shiningness. Dinner over, the boys' thanks were returned in song, and the children filed out — the boys to resume the avocations allotted to them, and the girls to their domestic duties. Somo of them scrub the dining room and prepare the tables for tea; some wash up the dishes and assist the cook; some go to the room where the school garments are repaired, and some of the patches would do no discredit to any housewife. All the beds are made by the girls, and the laundry work is also done by them. I accepted Mr Titchener's invitation to luncheon, and was there introduced to Mrs Titchener (the matron), Miss Christie (female teacher), and Mr Hugh Titchener (the teacher). I was introduced as Mr Johnson, a connoisseur in music, who had come specially to hear the band. Upon this Mr Hugh Titchener deprecatingly demurred, saying that the instruments were a mixed lot, and the band was short of practice; but his mind was speedily relieved of apprehension. A pleasant luncheon having been discussed, Mr Titchener and myself went over the buildings and grounds. It would be impossible to find cleaner or neater dormitories or out-buildings more scrupulously clean. All the refuse from the school is removed daily to a paddock across the road, and a compost made of it. With this material a paddock was manured, and there is now growing upon it the ninth crop of oats in succession, and a good crop it is. I feel sure that Mr Titchener must regret that he did not plant potatoes in this area this season, seeing how scarce and dear they have been, and it would have been good training for the boys. The oats grown are used to feed the horses, of which several are kept for necessary journeys to Dunedin and for pleasure. There are no cows kept, and I expressed some surprise at this, thinking that all the children should learn to milk. Mr Titchener explained that no sooner were they taught to milk than somebody wanted them "at service," and the cows were constantly subjected to the hands of tyros, and consequently spoiled. It thus costs less to buy milk than provide cows. The consumption at present is eight gallons a day, at sixpence a gallon. During our round I was shown two vehicles made entirely in the institution, and without cost to Government. One of them is a waggonette for the purpose of bringing supplies from Dunedin, and the other a high drag built to accommodate the band on their outings. Both vehicles are creditably finished and strongly built. At this time it was intimated that the band was ready for my delectation, and we joined in the assembly of children gathered to hear the music under the conduct of Mr H. Titchener (cornet), assisted by Mr Haigh (cornet). Several selections were played, and played so well as to put in the shade several country bands I have recently heard. Where the little fellows get the wind to fill those instruments will always be a wonder to me. How they learned their parts in twelve months, as is said they did, is equally surprising and creditable. We next inspected the girls' dormitories, laundry, etc., and found them all as clean and neat as the other parts of the buildings. I was quite convinced no attempt at anything like exhibition was made. The ordinary routine was going on. Downstairs, in the old brick building, is a large dormitory set apart recently for a few of the older boys, who may thus have opportunity for evening study. A manual of shorthand lying on the table indicated the direction of some, at all events, of these studies.
It is to be expected, since the great majority of these children are derived from ruined homes, that some of them have acquired habits of vice, and it is absolutely necessary, for the common good, that they should be treated somewhat differently. Occasionally one is found to be almost incorrigible. Such a one I saw confined in a cell by himself. He had just been recaptured after escape, but had many times broken out. I was shown how he had made a hole in a brick wall, having, with a small piece of wood, first dislodged a brick. Then he loosened the nails of the floor and lifted a board, crawling some 15ft through a space under the joists of only l0in. Then he crawled through a hole made for passing his food through, and it proved so tight a fit that he left behind a shower of waistcoat buttons. His escapes show more art than Gleeson's — and yet a milder, meeker boy you would scarcely see in a day's journey. The lower lip trembled, and his voice shook when I spoke to him, as though he were in deadly fear. On the previous Saturday a usually well-behaved lad was taken to Dunedin with the master. He held the horse in town while the master was on business, and in the afternoon they returned. No sooner was the lad out of the buggy after his return than an uncontrollable desire for liberty seemed to take possession of him, and he made off, and had not been recaptured at the time of my visit. But runaways are not frequent. We paid a visit to the school and inspected the work, which I found quite equal to any of that of the district schools in the same standards. The rooms (three in number) are well constructed and admirably fitted up for their purpose. The children, in appearance and manners, would compare very favorably with those of most country schools; indeed their appearance was better than in some I know, where it is quite common to see big boys and girls with bare feet sadly in need of detersion. I expected to see all the children uniformly dressed, and said so; but Mr Titchener explained that it was considered better to conserve the individuality of each child than to ignore it by dressing all alike. I could not but concur. All the clothes are made on the premises, and I was shown the material for future garments. All of it was of a substantial nature, and all the clothes in course of construction seemed well adapted to their purpose. Critical and all as I was determined to be I could find nothing in the management of the children to cavil at. I was particularly alert in our numerous passings to and fro to notice whether the cordial relations evidently subsisting between master and children were not put on for my especial benefit. It was plain, however, that such was the usual state of things. A boy on being called to would salute and approach respectfully yet confidently. There was no shrinking, nor yet was there any over boldness, and I was convinced that there were no "Sunday manners." Having now seen all that was worthy of note outside we adjourned to Mr Titchener's office to learn further particulars. Every child on committal is given a number, and the number of the last one admitted was 1,380; that, therefore, being the total quantity of admissions. There were now in the school, as already mentioned, 116; there were boarded out ninety-eight males and ninety-seven females; at service, sixty-two males and forty-five females; there were eight whose exact whereabouts are not known; one in the hospital, one in the blind institution at Melbourne, one in the lunatic asylum, and one in gaol at Auckland. For the management of the institution the following staff is maintained: — Master, matron, sub-matron, schoolmaster, school mistress, three male attendants, gardener, cook, and seamstress, besides two or three female ex-inmates, paid at nominal rates. Now as to those who are not inmates, and are yet subject to the authority of the master. According to the law, the committal of a child constitutes the master its legal guardian until the age of twenty-one; that is, of course, in his official capacity. Their earnings are paid to him, and withdrawals are left to his discretion. No committee fetters his actions, the only semblance of authority resting in two official visitors, appointed by Government. For the month of February L68 14s 4d was received on account of thirty-one children at service, and for the previous month L2l on account of nine; and L62 4s 4d on account of twenty-three the month before that. These sums are put to the credit of each and deposited in the Post Office Savings Bank in the official name of the manager. At the end of last year there was a total credit of L1,885 9s 1d among 175 depositors, whose credits range from L42 10s 8d down to a few shillings. The children who are boarded out are inspected periodically by honorary lady visitors, who fill up a form stating the condition of health and cleanliness which they find. No child can be paid for who is over twelve years of age, nor can any sum exceeding 10s per week be paid for any child. When possible, families are grouped in one home. Children licensed out are under the supervision of an inspector, who reports direct to the Government. Boys may be apprenticed to sea, but their indentures must not overrun their twenty-first year.
The following is a list of industrial schools in the Colony: Government — Auckland, Kohimarama, Burnham, and Caversham; local Thames Orphanage; private St. Mary's (Ponsonby, Auckland), and St. Mary's (Nelson). The cost of the schools is defrayed out of moneys appropriated by Parliament. These paiticulars being duly noted, Mr Titchener displayed his treasures. These consist of an immense number of letters received from ex-inmates. I was allowed to read as many of these as I chose, and all I saw were of a kindly and grateful character. In many cases photographs of the writers were sent, and, assuredly, when the originals enter on the world they are not less prepossessing than others. A hypercritical person might find fault with the grammar or spelling of some of the letters; but those I saw were sincere, if anything ever is so, and some of them indicated a warm love for the home which had sheltered them from a stormy youth. I conceived the idea that the school does more good for the girls than for the boys, and I concluded that they left the school so well equipped for the management of working men's homes that they speedily found husbands, aud a safe haven from further dangers. Mr Titchener and myself had a long conversation after the more serious business was over. He has the history of every case at his fingers' ends. In most cases he knew the parents, and without the least hesitation attributed to drink nine-tenths of the admissions to the school. I do not blush to confess that the moisture came to my eyes as he traced the downfall of once happy homes, ending, perhaps, in the death, imprisonment, or flight of the father; the degradation of the mother; and the assumption of the children by the State. The wonder is that any of the children are reclaimed at all. Cases due to undeserved misfortune are few indeed; and this prompted me to ask whether, in Mr Titchener's opinion, those who had been guilty of crime should not be treated separately from those left destitute by misfortune — in other words, whether a reformatory was not necessary. The answer was emphatically in the negative. Children who have broken the law have in most cases done no more than any one else would do under the circumstances. To place them in a reformatory would be setting an indelible brand on them, and would, perhaps, send them into the criminal class. Sent to the Industrial School, they at least have a chance of recovery, and of assuming that place in the order of things which is the birthright of all. I now bade Mr Titchener good-bye and wended my way downward. As I was passing through the front gate I heard a great boo-hooing, and saw my juvenile fat friend of the dinner-table in the custody of two larger boys. He had wandered out of bounds, as is his frequent custom, and his boohooing was the sign of his reluctance to face the master and the punishment he was certain to receive. Appearance of restraint there was none, but it is understood that children must not leave the enclosure, which provides ample room for them. On the whole, although I should not like my children to be in the Industrial School, nor yours, dear reader, if you possess any, yet we must speak of their condition comparatively. Only think for a moment what would have been the life, the end of these children in the school had they not been snatched up; and tell me whether they are not immeasurably more happy, more likely to become well doing men and women. May the hand wither that would injure one of these children of misfortune. -Evening Star, 2/3/1889.
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