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Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume 2, Issue 1, 1 January 1856, Page 2

ject of a Coroner's Inquest which is the first stage of inquiry, in all cases of violent death, whether from accident or premeditated purpose. It is the duty of a Coroner to go to the place where any person is slain or suddenly dead, and, by his warrant to the constables of the place, to summon a Jury out of the neighbouring places to make inquiry upon view of the body; and he and the Jury are to enquire into the manner of killing and all circumstances that occasioned the party's death: who were present, whether the dead person was known, where be lay the night before, and to examine the body for signs of violence. When the Jury have brought in their verdict, the Coroner Is to return ihe inquisition to the next assizes, where the murderer or murderers may be proceeded against. If a body liable to an inquest has been buried before the Coroner has notice of the death he has authority to cause it to be disinterred for the purpose of holding the inquest, provided he does so within a reasonable time. Such are the objects of a Coroner's Inquest. We have drawn the native attention thus particularly to the /unctions of the Coroner, to demonstrate theimporiance of the inquiries instituted by that officer, and to show that they are the primary means demanded for the furtherance of j ustice. Of this and of the absolute necessity for the exhibition of the body to a Coroner's Jury, Englishmen of all classes are so fully aware that the doties of the Coroner have ever commanded theirenlire confidence and respect, inasmuch as they afford the surest protection to their lives and safeties. The native people hove yet to learn the great value of the Coroner's Inquest. It is a system of judicature unknown to them; and, although in the case of te Kopi, they submitted to its operations, at the urgent remonstrance of their best and truest counsellors, still they did so with impatience; whilst, in that of the unfortunate woman Kerara, they showed an importunity for the delivery of the body, altogether opposed to their own interests, and that full, effectual and dispassionate administration of justice which the law prescribes. Let it be impressed upon their minds, that it is no idle curi-

osity which leads a Coroner's Jury to examine a corpse. They do so in order that ihey may be aided in ascertaining the manner of tho death of the deceased, and in detecting the person oi the murderer. That duty done, the body is placed at the disposal of iis friends for the purpose of unobstructed interment, according to their own particular customs. The report of the trial of Marsden taken from the "New Zealander" newspaper of the sth December, will be printed in the next number of the Maori Messenger. The trial was one of unusual interest. The Court House was densely crowded; and in addition to the common class of spectators, the following native Chiefs were present, and occupied seals in the Grand Jury Box: Te Puehu, te Wiremu, Te Tonga, Haukeie, Te Hikamate, Hotere Te Rakau Whakaware, Ranieha, Tahatika, Tamaii Whareturere, Wiremu Maihi Rangikaheke, TeAo. Many other natives were present in the body of the Court. And several influential Chiefs wera made Special constables for the occasion. Of these, the two principal were Taiapo and Te Hura, and the manner in which they superintended and preserved order among their people was such as to entitle them to the commendation of all classes. Indeed, upon this lamentable occasion, whether outside or inside the Court House, or at their temporary encampments at Cooper's Bay, and other places adjoining the town, nothing could exceed the decorum of the native population. The same reliance in the justice of the Queen's government so conspicuous in the demeanour of the Waikato tribes upon a former occasion, was no less remarkable or honourable to the Rotorua natives drawn together to learn the result of the trial of the wretched man who had imbrued his hands with the blood of one of their people. As a testimony of the high appreciation in which the native character is held in England, it affords us much pleasure to lay before our readers the following copy of a despatch addressed to his Excellency Governor Gore Brown by Lord John Russell her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Downing-slreet, 16th June, 1855. Sir,—l have received Colonel Wynyard's dispatches No. 5 and 7 of the 6th and i 3th of Janaary last, enclosing reports of interviews which he had held with several Native Chiefs relative to the death of the Native who was killed at Auckland on Christmas

pean as reported in bis dispatch of the 30th of December last; and I have in reply to express my satisfaction at the tone of the Addresses which were delivered by the Chiefs as showing submission on their part to the Laws of the Colony, and confidence in the fair and impartial manner in which those Laws would be administered both in respect of the Native and white population. I have, &c, (Signed) J. Russell. Governor Gore Brown, &c, &c , &e. Auckland.