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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 119, 23 July 1866, Page 3

186., to the Native ''Minister, . with its several en" closures, ,and with authorised translations of such enclosures, be laid on, the table of this House. Motion agreed to. In replying to a question from Mr. A. Richmond, in reference to the Maungatapu murderers. Mr. Stafford, stated that the Government without having actually come to any final determination, were strongly of opinion that it was desirable that those persons should be brought to Wellington to be tried. This conclusion they had arrived at for several reasons. In the first place 'it was deemed that the trial could take place at an earlier date here than at Nelson, and this was to be secured if possible in order not to interfere with Courts to be held elsewhere. There were besides this other reasons which would no doubt suggest themselves io hon. members why this should be done, and of these one was that it would tend to ailay the natural excitement into which the people of Nelson must have fallen in consequence of the mystery which had hitherto existed with regard to these murders, and which was day by day changing into the knowledge that a series of crimes of the most diabolical character had been committed. In the second place it would be well to remove these men to Wellington for safe custody. Ihe gaol at Nelson was not of sufficient strength .to secure them there without putting the Provincial Government to a great expense, which would be scarcely fair, as they had already expended a good de .1 upon the matter. The General Government had also thought that for the proper administration of justice the venue ought to be changed. These considerations had almost induced the Government to take steps to enable them to carry out such measures, but the decision was not yet arrived at. He might say that the Government had not done anything without consulting the Judge of the Supreme Court before whom the trial would take place. There would be no committal of the men until after the decision of the Legislature was known ; they would be merely remanded from time to time.