THE Thames Advertiser. FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 1875.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VIII, Issue 2132, 27 August 1875, Page 2

THE Thames Advertiser. FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 1875.

Mr Brissenden has confessed that, " in conjunction with Mr O'Halloran," he stole the miners' rights which wore abroad at Ohiuemuri prior to the opening of the field, This is certainly a very nice confession on the part of a Government officer—'a man who is entrusted with public money for the purchase of native lands it clearly proves that the suspicions entertained atout this miners' right fraud were not altogether groundless. The confession is one which should rouse the Government to set the law in motion, and, if possible, make a severe example, so that the public may in future be protected from such rascality. Mere dismissal from the Government service will not satisfy the public, and will bo no check upon future Bchemes of a similar nature. The fraud, as we have pointed out on several occasions, was cleverly contrived and planned, and was carried out in a bold and daring manner.' It was meant to cheat honest men out of their just claims, and was intended "to secure, by corrupt means, that which could not bo obtained legally and fairly. Certain ground was believed to be rich with gold, and to secure that ground thirty or forty miners' rights were stolen in the manuer stated by our telegrams fronMVellington. Had tho ground been as rich as was expected, there would have been endless litigation through this fraud, but the Government must not, by inaction, say that. tho offence is condoned by the poorness' of the ground. The people expect, and will demand, a lull investigation' of tho affair in a court of law, They will look to tho Government to treat Mr Brissenden in exactly the same manner as a miner would bo treated if ho walked into the Warden's Court and stole public documents, '

"We may say that we are surprised and pained to see Mr O'Hallorau's name connected with tho matter, because we really thought that ho was clean-handed, and until we hear of some confirmation of Mr Brissenden's statement, we shall be inclined to think that he has been dragged forward to save some one else, or that his name has been used as conniving at the fraud, without sufficient reason. Wo hope to hear, in a few days, tliat the Coramitteo have reported in favour of handing over all further investigation to the police, ' /