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Wellington Independent, Volume XXII, Issue 2567, 5 September 1867, Page 4

A Mkmbeii of Parliament sent to the Roads.— By tho following paragraph from the Melbourne Age of the 20th ult, it will be seen that Mr M'Ounn, a member of tho Victorian Legislature lias been sentenced to seven years imprisonment. Our contemporary says : — " William Nelson M'Cann was, at the Criminal Sessions yesterday, arraigned for forgery and uttering. Tho prisoner was defended by Mr Dawson, and Mr C. A. Smyth was detained to watch the case on behalf of the National Bank. The prisoner oxercisol his right of challenge in twonty instances and when afterwards he objected to a gentleman named Hughes, his honor paid that, having taken exception to tho number above indicated, he (the prisoner 1 ! must mention somo special reason why he challenged tho jurors. Ultimately, his counsel said ho would submit the following objection : — " Actual partiality on tho part of a juryman iv hating expressed an opinion as to the guilt of tho prisoner." A jury of two porsons was then appointed to ascertain whether or not Mr Hughes was unfit to ofhViato as a juryman, and they gavo a verdict in his favor. A largo amount of evidence was then taken. The cas« occupied about eight hours, and the jury ultimately found the accused guilty on the second count, of uttering. Ho was sentenced to seven years imprisonment, Tavvo. — Lieutenant St. Gm'£p has recently ro- . turned from Hawkes Bly to Tmpo. He roporta that the country between T«upa and Maun* gu.autatri is in a very unsettled state, but at i'aupo thoro are a gnxl many friendly natives, while those who caII themselves 11-iiilmus are moderate in their opposition to the Government, and ' civil to strangers. They aiv if auhutis, however, in ntitno only. They have, done away wilh tho worship r.mnd tho niu, and iv fa ft s.eru to haro no religon wharovor. Most of tho l.iibos in the interior soem to be fast relapsing into paganism.