The Evening Star. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1871.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 531, 22 September 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1871.

" For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance. For the future in the distance,,. And the good that we can do.'

Pkobablt the public may think they have had enough of the recent cases of" Mohawking," but we protest that the present state of the case demands the most searching enquiry. We do hot speak specially of th"c original offence, but of the effect made to stifle enquiry. We have been subjected to threats, legal and physical, to cajolery, and bounce, and even to the offer of bribes and money compensation, and "we declare that we shall noi rest till justice is done in this case, and till it is shown that the law is alike to rich and poor. It isnotorious that a system of reckless depredation has been carried on for some time nigl'tly. The offences are ol that character most difficult to detect. The police are in possession of facts sufficient to bring home the case to two at least of the marauders. And yet no prosecution has been instituted We do not know to whom this miscarriage of justice is due. That ife is noi owing to any maudlin feeling on tin part of the detectives, the sergeants and constables of the police is very well known ; and the blame is shared, in the opinion of the public, between Mr. Inspector Broham and Dr Pollen. It is known that Mr. Broham is on very excellent terms with the young fellows who have gol into a mess, and it is only due to Mr. Broham that we should tell him that it is his duty to clear himself of the suspicion which attaches to him of having allowed feelings of private friendship to override his sense of public duty. We feel the delicacy of saying this because we know that Mr. Broham is precluded by the rules of the service from replying to us in any form. And the only answer we ask from him is the fearless and impartial discharge of his duty. If he does his duty and shows that he holds hiy power in terrorem over evil-doers equally whether they are rich or poor, whether they are connected with the Tiaut ton or the back-slums, we shall give him th 3 meed of praise. If he does not, we shall not hesitate to say that he is unfit for the position which he holds, and should be expelled from it. We do not say this in any unlrindness to Mr. Broham, for we respect and esteem him as every one does that knows him ; but there are considerations of public duty that should stifle every other feeling. We venture to say that Mr. Naughton would never have sanctioned the condoning of such an offence, Mr. Naughton kept himself aloof from clique and party, and in the hour for action was unfettered by the claims of friendship. We do not say that it is otherwise with Mr. Broham, or that he is kept from doing his duty by the influence of friendship or clique. But the public will believe thai; he is, and it is his duty to act so as to create no distrust in his administration of the law. Others-say that Dr. Pollen has exerted his superior influence to shield the marauders. Jjf_ this is true, we say with equal absence of heBitation, that he should be thrust from the office which he holds as representative of the G-eneral Gt-overnment. It is very well kuown that he has forgiven the breaking of the fence of Government House, and that money has been paid by the offenders to repair it. He knows, therefore, who committed the depredations, and in the Police Court can be made to testify to admissions. It is also known that the breaking of the window, by the iron poker projected into a sleeping room at night, has been admitted, and money paid. The police have the whole thing in their hands, and we again say that if these offences are hushed up through back stairs influence it will create a distrust in the administration of the law and will be a public scandal. There is a popular feeling among the working classes that there is one ]a\jv for the rich and another for the poor, and such stifling enquiry will be a case in point, not fanciful, but real.

Wo do nob say that the depredarors on this occasion are " rich," »n tins delicate subject, reserving our remarks but they mingle in the sphere of those that are, n [ are, iv the popular mind, •is ociated with a society on which they are but tli6 excrescences. J3ut wo call on the authorities to clear this affair, not on account; of the actual heinousneas of the original offence, but on account of the improper efforts made to administer the law with partiality. If this is not done, we shall demand an inquiry into the conduct of the supposed guardians of the law.