Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5632, 4 December 1879, Page 4

Tin: withdrawal <>t the prosecution against the Rev. George Brawn for manslaughter, for killing certain natives of Now Britain, is in some respects the most titling ending to a most extraordinary proceeding. That Mr. Justice Gorrie display ed a want of j udg - ment much to bo regretted and fraught with great annoyance to the reverend missionary can now scarcely be doubted, and it seems a pity that when as Chief Justice he had to intimate the charge had been withdrawn, he did not make that amende to Mr. Brown to which he appears to have been entitled. Since the resumption of the discharge of his duties by Sir Arthur Gordon facts have been laid before him in connection with the transaction for which Mr. Brown was arraigned much fnller than the information upon which Mr. Gorrie acted as Judicial Commissioner, a fact which suggests that if this gentleman had waited until in a position to form a sound judgment, Mr. Brown would never have heard anything about the mutter. This appears to be a just inference, and tho most considerate way of regardingJMr. Gorrie's conduct— for of the excellence of that gentleman's inintentions there can be no doubt whatever. Sir Arthur Gordon is not at all afraid of using the very large powers with which lie is entrusted, and he is resolutely determined to give effect to his instructions to protcct the native populations of the islands of tho South Pacific. If, therefore, the charge against Mr. Brown afforded any reasonable justification for endorsing the action of Mr. Gorrie, he would certainly have allowed the prosecution to procee 1. But since the prosecution was initiated he received communications from the nival commanders on the station, who had investigated Mr. Brown's proceedings 011 tho spot, which were so favourable to the reverend gentleman as to impel him to arrest the prosecution which, on imperfect information, Mr. Gorrie had initiated. The release of Mr. (Brown from tho imputations cast upon him is of a most gratifying kind, and creditable to the high sense of justice of the High Commissioner. Tho friends of the reverend gentleman have thus had a j ccmftYUYAtAon of their confidence that ho | could not have acted with the reckless , disregard of life which was imputed to hini. Mr. Brown might have been dischnrged with more cchit had the liollowness of the charge brought against him been exposed by a public investigation ; but this would have been detrimental, to some extent, to the administrators of the law ; and Sir Arthur Gordon, whilst desiring to relieve Mr. Brown from the unjust stigma cast upon him, was bound to veil, so far as was possible, the blunder that had been committed by tiie Judicial j Commissioner. i