THE WAIROA MURDER.

Bruce Herald, Volume III, Issue 84, 9 November 1865, Page 5

THE WAIROA MURDER.

It was reported last evening- that the men tried and sentenced to be executed for the murder of Job, Hamlin, at the Wairna, had been liberated upon a rescript from the South. At first the intelligence was regarded as incredible. That the ordinary .forms of judicial procedure, the solemnity of a decision by a properly constituted jury, should have been summarily set aside, was considered to be beyond belief. It was stated in town that the- prisoners were released between five and six o'clock. At a later period of the evening 1 the story obtained greater consistency, and" bore a oraisemblance which could not be disregarded., We at once instituted inquiry. The result is as follows : — That an order was received by the- authorities ol the g-aol to liberate the-- priscmei-s= Tf'ori Taka and Matiu, under sentence of death for being 1 concerned in the murder of Job Hamlin, oi the Wairoa. That a representation was made upon their liberation by the prisoners that they should be. compensated J£r their, losses of time, with, respect to which',' o*' course,, there were no instructions. This part of the story needs verification*. At all events, upon enquiry made at a very late hour, the- whole story was corroborated, in . a manner tha scarcely admits of doubt. It mdj be- asserted that the Royal prerogative, has been exercised. We may state- that the Royal prerogative is never exercised at home without a long' correspondence, a prior publicity which is beyond the reach oi imputation. The decision of the jury seems to decline in value in the proportion that it is delivered at a distance from England. At all events, if all that we have heard be true, it is a most unceremonious deliverance, and one that really must be further explained before it can obtain full credence. This is another legacy left tothe province by the late most original mismanagement of aboriginal affairs, to wit, the .'native office.'— N.Z. Herald.