COUNTY COURT. DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 18, 19 August 1843, Page 3

COUNTY COURT.

DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE.

Trial op Two Native Slaves. — There was no case of any importance tiied at the last sitting of the above Couit, with the exception of two natives, (we believe slaves, at all events not chief men) who were tried for theft, and sentenced to six months hard labour. We should net notice this case, except as an illustration of the partial administration of justice. It appears there were other two natives concern* d in the theft, but th°y left the place, perhaps because they committed the theft } at least, so the other natives state. But the worst feature in this ca.«e, is the fact that these men were denied, at all events not supplied with legal counsel, neither were they put in the way of procuring witnesses, though they might by this means exculpate themselves. The Crown Prosecutor had his English witness examined in English, [ and of course used every argument to prove the guilt of these men, who neither understood the language nor the nature of the Court ; they could not plead themselves, they did not understand the method of procuring witnesses ; no counsel was afforded, and they were of course convicted ; we do not by any means say that they were not justly so, for we believe, as far as the judge could do it, he would give them every possible advantage, and it is not with any view of blaming judge or juiy we notice the case, but to shew the anomalous position in which the natives are placed. Had these men been great chiefs, they would have escaped, inasmuch as we are pervaded this government would not have ventured to bring them to ac« count j but being slaves, they are tried without the benefit of witnesses or of counsel, or any legal advice whatever. Under these circumstances, it was easy for a Crown Prosecutor to make a case against them. But, supposing these men to be really innocent, what a strange effect must this produce on the minds of the natives ? what an extraordinary idea will it give them of the justice of our laws ? H. M. S. " North STAR."-~This vessel has sailed a few days ago for Cook's Straits ; under what orders we have not been able to ascertain with any certainty ; it is reported that she is merely to visit the scrne of the late strife and to return here, as his Excellency Mr. Shortland, does not wish to act until the new Governor arrives, which he hope 3 may happen before her return. Mr. Shortland cannot now complain that he has no power to check the natives, and to punish them for their crimes. But will he assert the supremacy of the law by causing all the parties concerned in the late massacre to be brought to trial. He has now at lfiast, the power to do so ; but we strongly suspect that the same fatal indecision will mark the conduct of this Government iv the present, as well as in every former instance. Agricultural Societt. — A person evidently in-terested-in the prosperity of this Society, requests' information regarding their proceedings which we regret to say, we are not in a position to give. This Society has at least conferred a benefit on the town and country, by the establishment of a regular market, and we believe they are about publishing a report of their proceedings, in which, we doubt not, our friend will in due time obtain all the information which he seeks. \ The Settlers.— We were very much gratified in Epsom and other parts of the country a few days ago^To perceive the rapid progress of cultivation, and the great exertions our friends in the country are making to render us independent of all foreign supplies, as far as the necessary articles of living are concerned. Considerable portions of land have been this year sown with wheat in the neighbourhood of Auckland, and but for the want of flour mills, it is more than likely that double the quantity would have been sown! though the settlers can grow abundance of wheat, they are afraid that the means will not be provided for converting the wheat into flour. This however, might very easily be remedied. The settlers and towns' people, if no private individuals will undertake the erection of a suitable mill, should at once get up something of a Joint Stock Company for the erection of a windmill in Auckland ; the expence would thus be light, and the benc-fit would be general. We are aware that Joint Stock Companies are not favourably viewed in this place, but the expence of this would be small, and the speculation would be a certain one. The Emigrants. — The letter of a correspondent on this subject, is, we fear, in many respects true. We dislike to publish such statements, not from any evil they may create in the colony, where people are enabled to understand that the existence of individual suffering may not in the slightest degree depend upon the want of resoarces in the colony, but be exclusively as in this case, the result of mismanagement, and unkindness on the part of the government. We would not however, have any man, or body of men starve, or suffer wrong, without affording them the means of obtaining red' ess, be the consequences what they may; in this case, the Jitter has been elsewhere published, bo that we are not under the necessity I of receiving or rejecting it. The plan proposed in this letter is very good, provided the government would advance provisions for at least six months ; we, ourselves, would at the present moment be very glad to allow some of the emigrants to settle upon lands which we have purchased some years ago from the natives ; but we have as yet, no title to these lands. Her Majesty's officers in this colony will allow neither ourselves nor others to occupy them in peace. But even if we had a title, and were willing to give the land, our means like those of all the settlers, have been eaten out by the unjust, tardy, doubtful, and ruinous measures of this government ; so lhat we couW not supply the necessary provisions to the emigrants. If the emigrants are suffering, aB we fear they are, we would recommend them to go in a body to Mr. Shortland and demand food and work. He may

easily excuse himtelf to one or two, and send them dbout the-r Lntiut&s, but he will re c pect a body ol men. We recommend them to mal.e the experiment, and we think we can calculate upon a favorable rebult. jJ^Jmprovements in Shoktland Chescent. — In consequence of the alterations mude some time ago in the level of Shoitland Crescent, v;>ri(.us persons have been put to much inconvenience and expence in adapting their shops and houses to the level thus altered. Upon the whole, the appearance of the street is improved, and more tasteful buildings are replacing the formerhou-.es. Various schenes have, been adopted to accomplish this. In some instances houses ha^e been raised by means of screws and levers ; in other cases, they have been lowered, and a new story added to the old. At the present moment, the butcher's shop or house, belonging to his Excellency on one of his allotments in this street, is undergoing the process of exaltation, and will be a handsome building when finished. We trust his Excellency will also improve " the cooperage," and " barber's shop" which he has established on the same land. We are persuaded he will by a sm.ill outlay of this kind, not only enhance the value of his numerous houses and lands, but also materially increase his rental. We would recommend our readers to inspect these improvements, and to follow his Excellency's example, he knows what he is about. Government GA2ETTE.«=-"^"e perceive in the last number of this cheap periodical two bombastic letters, the one written by Mr. fehortland's amanuensis Mr. Connel, and the other by Dr. Monro, and Mr. Domett of Nelson. We should like to know if it be the intention to publish in th*is manner all the correspondence of the Secretary's office. We shall expect some fun when the letters lrom the Senate appear. Recent Importations. — Several fruit trees have lately been imported to this place, both from Van Diemen's .Land and Sydney, which were eagerly purchased by the settlers. A fine lot of cattle have also arrived in the " Alligator," consigned to Mr. Rich. These cattle are from the well known stock of Messrs. Imlay of Two Fold Bay. Such importations, though at the moment they take our money from the settle* ment, lend, nevertheless, to ultiroate good, as they leave something better in its stead. Fisn. — Wo are very much surprizod that fish is not moro generally used by the inhabitants of Auckland than it appears to be. Beef, mutton, and pork, are certainly very good, and very nourishing, but a change to fish now and then, would be very conducive to health. In the neighbourhood of Auckland, and indeed, along tho whole coast of New Zealand, fish is not only abundant, but superior in quality. Wo would strongly recommend the emigrants and working people, such of them at least (and wo fear they arc many) as are not much occupied, to pay some attention to this matter, by a very little labour during one day, they may be enabled to procure as much fish as would upply their families for a whole week. o