COMMON INFORMERS AND SPIES IN NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Herald and Auckland Gazette, Volume I, Issue 53, 19 February 1842, Page 3

COMMON INFORMERS AND SPIES IN NEW ZEALAND.

(From the Autralasian Chronicle , Feb. 25 th, 1841) Mr. Editor, —Would the public in England credit the fact, that notwithstanding common informers in the Old World are everywhere despised, abhorred, and shunned by all except thieves and desperadoes, the fellow-labourers of their class —here they are cherished, encouraged and employed ? Is espionage the indispensable ingredient of all new governments? And must spies be sent to New Zealand to discover the nakedness of the land, and make a breach to invade the purses and liberties of the people, when they least expect an attaek ? Forbid it every friend to liberty!—forbid it, every unchained soul whose independence springs from the sweat of his brow! An old, notorious scoundrel, well known in your colony, said to be rationed and employed by the powers that be, has been prowling about New Zealand, trying to entrap tradesmen and others to commit breaches of the law, wnich may subject them to heavy penalties by fine, and thus raise a fund to provide for those unlicked cubs of the great bear—patronage. Contrast this, ye haters of despotism, with the following instructions, published in the New Zealand Gazette of October 10th, 1840, from a London Paper—v “ The Marquis of Normanby addressed a circular letter to the magistrates of the several Metropolitan police courts, directing that common informers shonld be discountenanced ; and suggesting that should there be a con-fiction the informer should not share in the penalty inflic-ted.”-—I am, sir, your obedient servant, KORORARIKA.