WANGANUI.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1861, 28 April 1863, Page 3

WANGANUI.

Froji the Chronicle of the 23rd instant, we take the following, —

Tabanakl — We learn that two natives have come here who left Taranaki on Friday lastThey report that all was quiet when they left They paid toll on entering and leaving the Maor land.

Deserters. — The three deserters, whose capture at Turakina we mentioned lately, have been tried by court-martial, and sentenced respectively to six, four, and two months' imprisonment. The last punishment is inflicted on Page, the extenuating circumstances in this case being, that he is very young, and dumb, and was decoyed away by the others.

Three deserters were brought in on Tuesday from Rangitikei. Corporal Atkinson of the Police, having received information of there being three men like soldiers working on the road between Capt. Daniell's and Mr Bull's sent two constables out on Saturday, who apprehended the men and brought them into town. The numbers had been cut off, their boots and all the marks on their clothing carefully erased to avoid identification; but yesterday on their clothing being examined, the stamp "2nd Batfc. 14th, 1 ' on one of their braces was made out,»so that it is likely they have deserted either from Wellington or Napier. They are fine strapping young fellows, and are well worth the money payable as a reward for their apprehension.' One of them seems to have deserted beforo, having D marked on his left side, which ho has tried to deface by pricking a bird's nest over ic.

The Chronicle in contending for quarterly sittingg of the Supreme Court at Wauganui, after alluding to the impossibility of enforcing the law at Taranaki, goes on to say : — " But horo the case is different. The subjects of her Majesty in this place have no means of administering justice but in the way appointed by British law. They desira no other means. They have anxiously expressed a wish to have law administered among them by a Judge of the Supreme Court. This wish has been allowed by the Government to be reasonable and right — so much so that they have promised to comply with it. But the promise ha 9 not been fulfilled. The trouble and expence in bringing offenders to justice, implied in the cases being carried to Wellington, must still be undergone. What is the consequence? It is notorious that crimes have been committed hero of late ah which humanity shudders, which in a neighbouring colony would be visited with the oxtreme penalty of the law, but no attempt has been made to bring the offenders to justice. Why? The natural repugnance of those interested to appear as principals in such cases may have some influence. But the principal reason is the exponce. Although there is an allowance made for the expenses ot prosecutors, which must amount to a large sum yearly, it is quite inadequate to cover their moat meagre outlay for the journey to Wellington, 80 that a poor man seeking for justice is ruined in the process. Thus the action of criminal law is here in abeyance. A man will rather suffer in silence the basest injuries than subject himself, in addition, to beggary. There is thus one law for the rich and another for the poor. The latter must suffer indignity and loss in silence, while the former are protected from violence by their to prosecute. The impunity with which crimes are thus committed increases their frequency and enormity ; and if a remedy is not speedily found there will be no safety for either person or property in this neighbourhood .

We have no reason to suppose that Maoriea have I anything to do with the outrages referred to. There is therefore no excuse whatever for the vir- ' tual suspension of crimi nal law here. To hang! well has been said to be one of the two duties of a j government. There is no wish here that this duty ] should be laid aside. A desire has been strongly expressed that it should be fulfilled. But the Govern, ment which is pro viding-and which is doiug well in providing — means for the administration or justice | among those who are careless of it, will take no ! step in behalf of those who earnestly desire it , This indifference is the more inexcusable because the remedy is so simple. All that is needed is to ask Judge Johnston to take a trip by steamer or overland from Wellington three or four times a year. He has timo for such journeys, and they j might benefit his health. Were a new Judge necessary at a salary of£ 1500 a year, then it might be a question whether he should be appointed, or ' the expense of criminal prosecutions at Wellington be borne by the Government. But there is no difficulty in the way. The inhabitants of Invercargill were till lately in the position as ourselves. They had to send their important cases toDunodin for trial. They applied for what we are now asking, and their request wa» at once granted. Mr Justice Richmond, now gives invercargill the benefit of tiis occasional presence. Why is Wanganui treated differently, and how long is it to wait, until the promise of ihe Government is to be fulfilled ? The only possible excuse — the insufficiency of the gaol accommodation — will now soon be removed ; so we trust there will be delay no longer in having a Judge of the Supreme Court appointed to visit this place periodically, or as occasion may require. — .«. LATE3T FROM OTAGO. By the Lord Ashley, we have later dates to the 25th inst., but the intellegenco is unimportant We subjoin a few extracts , — THE ESCORT. The Escort arrived in the towa yesterday afternoon, bringing the following quantities of gold: — ozs. dwts, ' Wakatipu ...7,173 15 Dunstan ; 3.289 0 Tuapeka 2.265 10 Total ••••12.728 ,6 The Wakatipu gold consisted of 4,098 oz. 15 dwts. from Queenstown, and 8,075 oz. from the Arrow township. None has been brought from Waitahuna or the Woolshed. — DpMy Times, April 22. „ * " ' ' ". : The latest commercial and shipping intelligence will be found elsewhere;

The Provincial Government of Canterbury have advertised for tenders for the performance of a Steam Service between Melbourne and Lytrelton, and also between Lyttelton and Port Chalmers, calling at Akaroa and TimaiU, to carry local and Australian mails free. — Daily Times, 2 1st April.

We are informed that a cheque for LI. IOO on account of the Utago Fund, was sent home by the mail on Saturday; two-thirds going to the reJief of the English sufferers from the Cotton Famine and one third to those of Scotland. — Ibid,

From some unexplained cause three of our Lake correspondent letters have arrived together. We have only space for one of them in our present issue, and the others will be published in our next. The incoming escort from the Lake closed with about 7,600 oz, the decrease being accounted for by the fact that the miners are busily engEged building their winter huts. A good many of those afraid of the severities of winter had left for the Dunstan and elsewhere, and very few fresh arrivals were taking place. — Ibid.

A Great Shot. — The greatest "shot" yet fired by the men employed under Mr Swyor, the Provincial Engineer, in the reduction of Bell Hill, was exploded about half-past two yesterday afternoon. These men are occupied between the point at which Mr MKenzie'd men are working and the Court House, in getting down that portion of the hill which is wholly composed of blue stone boulders and slabs, with intermixed ehale and clay. Several ordinary shots are fired daily, the charge of powder averaging from 61b to 81b., and three of these were fired yesterday afternoon, preliminary to the great one. For this blast, a 3-inch hole wa3 sunk, 24ft. on the top of the hill, and about lOft in from the face of the rock. Into this hole 581 bof powder was put, filling 17ft o, the depth, the charge being ignited by a double fuse extending to within 2ft of the bottom of the hole. The shock was not much felt on the ground, nor wa9 the report a loud one ; but it was rather a fine sight to watch the myriads of fragments that went flying into the air, at first gloomily lighted up by the flash, and then almost enveloped in dense smoke. A measurement was made of the quantity or debris which fell at the foot of the hill ; and it was/ound to be about CBB tons or equal to 345 cubic yards. Nearly as much it was estimated, was so shaken that a good I shower of rain would cause it to fall ; and it can certainly be toppled over by means of crowbars. j But, apart from this, the result showed the economy of powerful shots, and no doubt many such as that of yesterday afternoon will be fired. The cost of it was L 8 lls 2d, thus composed — Boring the hole, two men six days, at 8s a day each, L4= 16s; shaipening bits, ss; fuse 2s 6d; 581 b powder, at Is lid, L 3 7s Bil. This makes the cost per cubic yard of the stuff brought down, just 6d. It should be remembered that according to official notification, the road along the newmade ground is stopped ; so that although nothing like barriers have been erected, any one who chooses to take the road doea co at his or her own risk. The Invercargill Times of the 14th inst., say 3 that a party consisting often has been organised, and will probably start to-day on a lengthened prospecting expedition to the Western Coast. These men are, all of them, practised diggers, butinclude amongst their number several mechanics, a sailmaker, shipbuilder, carpentor, &c, They have provisioned themselves for an eight month's trip. Should they see any inducement to settle permananently there, ttay will do so, and take with them all sorts of seeds in anticipation of their being required. The principal object of the expedition is the discovery of gold. Every care lias been taken that their equipment shall include all that is necessary in an undertaking of the kind. The party have purchased for their trip the Nugget, cutter, 16 tons register. She is a new boat and is well adapted for the service to which she is to bi put. An old ''salt" from Stewart's Island is to have chargeof the navigation department. A good sized dingy will be taken on beard especially for the purpose of ascending rivers where practicable. We wish them every success.