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Evening Star, Issue 3127, 26 February 1873, Page 2

We understand that the visiting justices yesterday sentenced tiie convict Haley to six weeks in irons, for attempting to escape on Sunday, and that he has been put in the hard labor gang on Bell Hill, The Otago representatives at the Colonial prize tiring sailed by the Taranaki this afternoon. A number of persons assembled at the railway station to wish them boa voyage; and a faint attempt was made to give them a cheer as the train started.

The doctrine that “the King can do no wrong” appears to have its parallel among the moral sentiments of Maoridom. During the proceedings of the Native Lands Purchase Enquiry, kow going on at Napier, a chief, named Te Hapuku, was asked by Judge Mapng whether he was aware of the old Maori custom, that when one native brought a charge against another, that was not well founded, a very serious penalty was incurred, replied, with pleading naivety and, we do not doubt, at the same time with correctness — “I am aware of that custom ; but it only relates to slaves, not to chiefs of my rank.” The reply, in whatever light it may be viewed, must convey this impression at least that Te Hapuku is of opinion that chiefs of his rank are placed far above any such servile obligations as that of refusing to bear false witness against one’s neighbor. The most interesting and important feature of the pioceedings of the Native Lands Purchase Enquiry Commission, as far as they have yet gone, was the expression by Judge Richmond, on behalf of himself and Judge Maning, apropos of eases in which the consideration given for laud had consisted in part of spirits. Their icport to Parliament, he observed, would be based ou equity and good conscience, and granting that the sale of spirits might be be d to vitiate part of the consideration money, it would be highly unconscientious on the part of any native to attempt to upset a sale of land, made with his eyes open, on the ground that part of the consideration had been spirits, Great as were the evils caused by drink, both he and Mr Maning were of opinion that the remedy would be worse than the disease, were they teach the natives that they would upset sales ou such grounds. This would indeed be a disastrous lesson to teach the whole native population ot the Colony. At the twenty-eighth anniversary of the Scottish Corporation in London, held on the 30th November, Mr Lowe presided. The following is an extract from one of his speeches on the occasion. He expressed his regret that he was not a Scotchman. “ I never,” he said, “heard of an Englishman who would do anything for me because I was an Englishman, but, gentlemen, I have relations who are Scotchmen, and when those relations come to London, I observe that they always put up at Scotch hotels, buy clothes at Scotch shops, go to a Scotch doctor, and, in fact, coniine their custom exclusively to Scotchmen. Now, gentlemen, no Englishman would do that for an Englishman, and, therefore, I maintain that I have proved and made out to you, not a sentimental, bub a clear and substantial reason why I wish I was a Scotchman. But 1 will give you another reason. When George 111. was attacked by a mob, a certain Mr Bedingfield, who, like myself, hai the misfortune to be an Englishman, saved him from his assailants and got him safely into his carriage. Next day the king sent for him, and asked him what he could do for him, when Mr Bediugfield said, ‘ I wish to God your Majesty could make me a Scotchman,’ ”

A meeting of the Good Templar Pioneer Lodge will be held in the Lodge room tomorrow (Thursday), evening, at 7.30.

Volunteers are reminded that the annual inspection of companies will shortly take place. The precise dates will be found in our advertising columns.