Prisoner Escort took 12 days!

Escorting a prisoner to Waikeria Borstal - 1961
  • 30th May.   Depart Dunedin 11.55am - Express train to Christchurch, then Lyttleton.   Inter-Island Ferry to Wellington (overnight sleeping berth).
    Note: In those days there was no ferry service established from Picton.   Travelling Dunedin to Auckland required no separate sleeping accomodation as both express train and ferry journeys were overnight.
  • 31 May.   Arrive Wellington 7am - Prisoner left at Wellington Central Police Station for day.
  • 3.40pm collect prisoner and leave Wellington on overnight Express train.
  • Transfer prisoner to waiting prison officer at Te Awamutu at 4.00am.   Continue on train to Auckland.
  • 1st June.   Spend all day in Auckland, returning to Wellington on overnight express.
  • 2nd June.   Spend all day in Wellington, then travel overnight on Inter Island Ferry to Lyttleton.
  • 2-3 June.   Suffer extreme stomach pain on ferry journey.   Met at Christchurch Railway Station by Police escort and taken to Christchurch hospital at 8.00am for operation.    Peritonitis (advanced appendicitis).
  • 10th June, discharged from hospital.

    Meal allowance for prisoner was 4/- (four shillings or 40 cents) at Oamaru, 5/- at Christchurch, and 5/- at Palmerston North.

    So, on that occasion it took around 12 days to get from Dunedin to Auckland and back !!!!