SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1904

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1114, 8 October 1904, Page 2

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1904

STRONG comments are made by the Observer this week on what seems to be a gross miscarriage of justice. They bear upon the release from the New Plymouth gaol, immediately after a sontonce of two years' penal servitude had been passed upon him, of the man Raven, who was found guilty of procnring a snbject for im illegal operation. "The release,'' quoting from onr contemporary "constitutes a scandal without parallel in the criminal history of the country, It is a rank and Ha?, rant offence against morality and good government, Indeed, if the Cabinet is to be consistent, it must immediately open th; gaols of tho colony, and release evrvy rogue and vagabond under aoutor-co, for there is not on the prison records a worse offence than that with which this l'uQian Ravoii was coivicted. Edward Arthur Raven tr. jves in pious society in New Plymouth. This fact in itself aggravates his crime. While betrothed to on girl, he seduced another, and, in order to remove the consequences of hie guilt,

.mrsnaded an Opnnake resident named Brown to perform an illegal operation for a consideration of £lO. And yet, while Brown is condemned to five years' penal servitutude, the

Minister of Justice intervenes and orders the release of Raven. Is it possible to conceive a more monstrous injustice or a more flagrant interference with the course of the law? The excuse is that Raven turnod King's evidence, This, is, however, a Bh?meless (nubble. There was no King's eyidenco required. Tho police | had tho girl's evidence, they found

Raven's letters in Brown's house, to say nothing of BrowlVs diary, which contained notes of tho case, while Browi himself admitted the crimo when he was arrested, and pleaded guilty. -What more convincing evi-

dence could the Crown have got than was already in their possession? Throughout tho whole affair Raven was tho principal. He was present when the operation was performed, and though the act was not actually his, he was the moving spirit in its accomplishment. We are not surprised that the case has aroused strong indignation in New Plymouth. It would arouse indignation anywhere. The girl whom Raven seduced waß a working girl, depending on her trade as a tailoress for a living. Arthur Edward Raven was a young man moving in a better position in society, and possessing influential trieuds. The girl is ruined for life, Raven, with the connivance of Mr Seddon's Government, goes scot free. The sentence of a Supreme Court judge is suspended, and the prison doors opened, to save his worthless skin. And yet we shnll be told that the Seddon Government is not susceptible to backstairs influence. The leleaHeof the man Raven was an insult to every woman in the country, It was a direct -,mA open encouragement to heartless profligacy and cloaked crime. For the present, however, and until we are in the poesussion of more convincing evidence to the contrary, we refuse to believe that Mr Seddon was any party to the release of this blackguard Raven, At the time it happened, he was away on the West I Coast, attending the celebrations there, and was probably not aware

of either the conviction or release of the man. However Mr Seddon's opponents may differ from him on political points, it is recognised throughout the country that ho is a man of a clean moral life, a good husband, and himself tho father of daughters. Knowing Mr Seddon as | we do, we absolutely refuse to believe that he was any parly to granting a " free pardon" to this ruffian i.Ravtu MrMcGowan, the Minister of Justice, is not a family man. This means much. In the face of the facts that have become such a scandal, and of uia own hatred of offences against women, it remains to be seen whether Mr Seddon will countenance and confirm the release of this criminal."

Now tho St, Joseph's Church Bazaar is at hand, the Jadies have got together a mngnificont collection of work, inoluding paintings, oaryed and painted panels, and overy variety of art needlework. From the collection it is anticipated that the proceeds will excood the amounts of past yonrs.

A meeting of subscribers to the Waihi Public Library will bo held in Mr Wellrun t's oflico on Monday evoning next at 7 30 sharp, to nominato tbree ropreesontalives to act on the management cornuiiitee of the library under the direction of tho Waihi Borough Conncil. It is to be hoped that us many as possible will attend.

Much intorest is being evinced in tho tug-of-war contest at 8t; Joseph's Church Bazaar. A large number of teams are oxpectod to compete Tho committee notify that entries close on Saturday next, so that competing teams can be notified on Monday, 17th, of the e (act time when tho pul's of each round will take place.

Ngtioe is given in our advortisinp colthat all rates owing to tho Borough of Waihi must be paid to the collector within seven days from date. We ate requested to romovo tho gonoral erroneous impression that rates nood not bo paid till the 4th of February next year. As a matter of fact, all rates not paid to date aro now considerably overdue, and may bo rocove.tod by operation of law,

Tho adjourned meotiug of the Waihi School of Mines Connoil was held in tho school building on Thursday night. Prosont: Messrs Thos Gilmonr (in tho chair), A. T, Kenrick, E, G. Banks, R. Morgan, .1. Henderson, Thos. Johns, W. Morrison, C. J. Saunders, and J. L. Gilmour. Tho director reported that a number of load, iron, and zinc ore and other speoiinons had boon presented lo tho school by Mr I. Cramor-Roborts and Captain Newdiek, former students of tho looal school, and now residing in Rhodesia, Accounts amounting to 18910 a lid were passed for payment, The resignation of Mr Heard, secretary, on account of ill-health, was accepled with regret, and Mr C. L, Clarke was oleelcd in his stoad,

Mr. V. R. Vickorman, Distriot Engineer, accompanied by Mr. Hay, engineor in chargo of tho '-Vaihi-Paoroa railway construction, arrived in Waihi Into last evoning. The two gentleman spent tho groatcr part of tho day inspecting tho work from Knrangahako right .up to Waihi, reaching Waihi a litilo after 0 o'clock in tho evoning. Mr. Vickorunn appeared to be well satislled witn the progress made, and is of opinion that tho train will bo running between Auckland and Waihi within twelvo months. Tho lino between Wnikino and Waihi is nd\Mncod to a point within a miloand a half of tho Waihi railway station. Tho' lino through tho tunnel at Karangahako, it is expected, will ho completed during tho next four months, and Wnikino will likoly bo connr-otod within six or eight months, Mr. Viclterman left again in tho morning,

Sorvices in the local churches to-morrow (U'o advertised as follows:—it tho frcsbytorian Church thoEev .1. Pattullo preaches both morning and ovoning, At tho fonnor service Holy Communion will bo colobrated, whilst at tho ovoning sorvico thoro will bo tho usual siugiug by tho choir, und Miss MoArthnr will give a rendition of" Ho Wipos a Tom." At the t'rimitive Methodist Church Mr fitanway will conduct sorvice at 11 a.m. ami tho Itov J Southern at 7 p.m. Mr Southern's subject will bo "God's Invitation,'' and there will ho a solo "Tho Wonderful Story," TholtevC Harrison will conduct hearty and homely Bervicos at the Wesley Church at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m, Thoro will bo unthcuis by tho choir, and a solo by' Mrs Helwos. Pastor Perry will conduct both morning and ovoning sorvices at tho Boptist Church. Mr Foster's subjeot at tho Church of Christ will bo "Christianity versus Thoosophy," Tho subject at tho morning's meeting of the Y.M.I.C. will bo "Thy will bo done on earth as it is iu Heaven," Mr Perry being the speaker.

Mr. Wallnutt, sharobrokor, land and estate nßent, uotifioa in this issuo that ho has a five-roomed residonco, with ono aore land and all convenience, for Balo at £l2O cost. Mr, Charles Bray, County Engineer, invites tenders for contracts for tho Bupply and delivory of 300 cubic yards of spawls in theco contracts of 100 yards each, in tho main road botweon Waikino and Waitote bridge, Specifications may be soon at tho County oflieos, Taeroa,