To the Editor of the Hawke’s Bay Times.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume IV, Issue 196, 14 October 1864, Page 1 (Supplement)

To the Editor of the Hawke’s Bay Times.

SiE, —It has for a long time past been a matter of wonder that so many cases of assault by soldiers on settlers have been permitted to pass without any attempt on the part af the aggrieved parties for redress : we have supposed that they have, as a rule, preferred to suffer their wrong rather than take the necessary trouble to get the offenders punished. Of course we know this to be an erroneous rule of conduct, for though undoubtedly most easy for the parties concerned, their duty to the public is thereby neglected, and all the inducement that immunity can give to the offender is

thereby given to repeat his conduct on others. However, the occurrences of the past week have thrown more light on the subject, and shown us a deeper cause than a dislike to the inconvenience of prosecuting. No doubt we shall see a report of the circumstances to which I allude in your journal they are those of the criminal assault on Mr. Harding, where the plaintiff has to suffer not only the violence of the brutal assailant, but also to pay a penalty for making his complaint as well, in the shape of costs to the tune of £lßs. If this decision on the part of the Resident Magistrate is not equivalent to a premium on 'crime, I beg to enquire what it is, and also whether we can do anything to escape so great a grievance as being forced to yield to this kind* of'Justice ? If we can, what is the course open to us to ensure a more satisfactory slate of things than now exists at the Resident Magistrate’s Court ? I find that the miscreant who committed the assault, and has been rewarded by a term of less work and better food in the lockup than he would have had in the barracks, has for some time past been in the employ of the Resident Magistrate, during the hours placed at his own disposal. I am, sir, Yours, &c., OBSERVER. Napier, 12th October, 1864.