>From The Launceston Examiner, 30 October 1856 - A meeting, convened by the Standing Committee of the Working Classes, was held at the Ampitheatre on Monday evening, to take into consideration the recent magisterial decision concerning the immigrants Andrew Aherne and his wife, who were sentenced to imprisonment for a breach of the Immigration Regulations in attempting to leave the colony without fullfilling the engagement printed on the back of the bounty ticket, by which he and she agrees not to leave Tasmania within four years of arrival ; or otherwise, before leaving the colony, to make repayment towards his or her passage money at the rate of one-fourth for every year wanting to complete the four years' residence. Aherne, Whose sentence had been remitted by the Governor, was on the platform with his two children. The following resolutions were passed:-- "1. That in the opinion of this meeting any system operating in such a way as to allure emigrants to this colony under false pretences, or without their being fully aware of the tenure of the contract, or without the Immigration agent in this colony being furnished with an attested voucher of the contract between the contracting agent in Europe and the emigrant, is unwise in policy and ineffectual in operation." "2. That in the opinion of this meeting the case of Andrew Aherne and wife, immigrants, is cruel in the extreme, and deserving the favourable consideration of this meeting." A vote of thanks to the Governor was passed, and a collection made to defray expenses. Mr. J. Moir presented each of Aherne's children with a £1 note. Liberation of Aherne.--This man, whose case has excited so much attention, was released from the House of Correction, where he had been employed in breaking stones, on Saturday last. It appears that some gentleman interfered in the case and got him to sign a petition, which the Governor was pleased to grant. Aherne undertaking not to quit the colony until the expiration of the four years, unless the sum due to the government was first paid. The man and his wife and children are residing in Harrington-street, opposite the "Queen's Arms," and we understand, have been visited by several benevolent individuals. We are informed that it is not trite, as stated, that Aherne came out under a fraudulent bounty ticket, and it was not until he had been out of work several weeks, and some relations of his wife undertook to pay their expenses to Sydney, where they could make sure of work, that he conceived the idea of going away. The man states, that, as the bounty ticket was sent home to him by a relation from this colony, he had no idea that he was bound to stop here.--Col. Times. ------------------------------------------------ Historic Australian Newspapers, 1803 to 1954 http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper Aherns in Australian Records http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~aherns/ahcrim.htm ------------------------------------------------