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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 8, Issue 396, 23 July 1866, Page 4

The Murder oe Me Dobson. — The GreyRiver Argus, 10th July, save that oa Saturday, 7th July, “ James Wilson, alias James Murray, was held before the Resident Magistrate at Greymouth, charged with the wilful murder of George Dobson, on the Grey and Arnold track, on or about the 28th of May last. Mr Inspector James said that the prisoner had been ia custody on another charge, but he now brought him up oa the charge of haviug murdered George Dobson. He then detailed the circumstance regarding the finding of the body on the previous day, which was merely a repetition of the evidence given by him at the inquest. He then asked for a remand, as there were other parties implicated in the murder. The Magistrate granted the application, and remanded the prisoner to Hokitika, to he brought up before the Resident Magistrate there on Monday, the 16th iast.” An Agent oe the Aborigines Protection Society. —The Raglan correspondent of the Southern Cross states that a person representing himself as a representative of the Aborigines Protection Society, had come to that district, and suddenly disajipeared. He bore an introduction from Thompson to the King, and was furnished with presents and guides. He circulated rumors that the natives intended attacking Raglan. The guides lost sight of him, and he is supposed to have perished in a swamp. The Herald of the 11th instant has brought the defunct agent to life. It says;—“We are credibly informed that an agent of the Aborigines Protection Society dressed as a clergyman, is now in this city, having returned from a visit to William Thompson and other chiefs in the interior. It is said that this person landed in Christchurch, and having obtained letters of introduction from Mr Fitz Gerald to William Thompson, came northwards. He is described us a young man of 23 years of age, 5 feet 10 inches in height, and dressed as a clergyman, and when amongst the natives was known by the name of * Edward.’ ” Tasmania evidently expects to be saved—politically, financially, and socially, by salmon. The successful termination of the salmon ova is a theme of perpetual jubilation in the papers, which vie with each other in the piscatory prospects before them, and ask “ who would not wish to bo sharers ” in , lheir joys ?

Cape Town.—We (Weekly News) are indebted to Mr George Kettle for files of Cape Town papers to the 15th May inclusive. From Natal we learn that ecclesiastical matters are still in a very unsettled state. The churchwardens of the cathedral at Maritzburg, acting under the advice of Chief Justice Harding, forced open the doors of the Church, and on the following day it was again forced, and the doors removed during the night. Dean Green maintains his refusal to produce the baptismal register, and is consequently open to a charge of contempt of Court. Sermons have been preached by ministers of all denominations, opposing the alleged arbitrary action of the Bishop. No result has as yet transpired, but legal steps will be taken to compel the Dean to produce the register. The newspaper war continues. A series of lectures, delivered at Maritzburg, by Mr Phipson, have excited great attention. Bishop Colenso is about to publish a second series of sermons. Notice has been given by Mr Sanders, M.L.C., of his intention to introduce a bill into the Legislature to empower members of the Church of England to regulate their own affairs, in accordance with the practice of the mother church. Dean Green, Vicar-Gcneral of Natal, has been pronounced by the Supreme Court, in the language of one of the judges, in “ legal excommunication.” As far as the legal proceedings of the Court are concerned, he is an outlaw. He cannot obtain redress for any grievance ; and “ the other party (Bishop Colenso) is left in full possession ” of the church property.

The Maungatapu Tragedy.— Where are the Prisoners to be Tried ?—As was stated in oui last, the General Government anxious that the four prisoners, Sullivan, Levy, Burgess, and Kelly, should be tried in the “Empire City.” The good people of Nelson do not at all relish this idea, and the Crown Prosecutor was to proceed to Web lington on the 14th_inst. to place before the Government the many serious objections that exist to the removal of the murderers. “At least fifty people,” urges the Examiner, “ would have to be conveyed to Wellington, including most of the medical gentlemen of the city ; ” and adds, “ the feeling here is universally opposed to the removal of the prisoners.” In Wellington, we perceive, a memorial had been got up, and was being taken round for signature, praying that the murderers should not be tried in that city. The Independent does not at all agree with the memorialists, and says that “is by no means certain, as the memorial alleges, that the men could most speedily be tried at Nelson ; in fact, we think it likely that the course of justice would be quicker were the trial to take place here. Nor would the adoption of that course cast any slur on our Nelson fellow-colonists, by whose exertions the supposed murderers are now in custody, because it is not uncommon to try criminals in another district than that in which the crimes have been committed, when the public mind has been much excited. * * In the case of Levy, Burgess, Kelly, and Sullivan, it is evident that the Nelson public are much excited—-witness the yells and execrations directed against the prisoners—and though Englishmen everywhere will give even the most infamous wretches justice, yet it is not fitting that a jury should be composed of men whose feelings have been roused to the highest pitch of indignation by deeds so atrocious occurring in their immediate vicinity. A difficult and tedious judicial enquiry should be approached in a calm and dispassionate frame of mind. We, therefore, think that the trial should take place at Wellington.”

Atmospheric Phenomen. —The Southern Cross says:—“ On Monday evening, the 25th June, a luminous appearance was seen towards the eastward, at 6'30, in Middle Waikato. It continued above the horizon for about 40 minutes. Many on the frontier settlements believed it to be a native signal, as it is thought that rebels are in that direction. Others esteemed it to be the precursor of a storm, since which time there have been heavy gales, with terrific thunderstorms in Waikato. At Kihikihi the phenomenon presented the appearance of a red meteor; but to Mr Da Theirry, who was travelling with some from the West Coast it appeared a bright amber color. The state of the atmosphere at these given points may have caused the difference. The natives became frightened, and many believed it to be the harbinger of some disastrous event. The Maoris are not singular in their dread of unusual appearance in the heavens. Many of the untutored in astronomy, in the old world, look upon comets and meteors as forerunners of war, pestilence, and famine.

Death by Deowning. —On Saturday week a miner known only by the name of Kitto, was drowned in the Inangahua River, under very _ melancholy circumstances. He was crossing the river in company with his mate when he missed his footing, and was swept off by the current. After being carried down the river for some distance, he recovered himself and seized hold of a branch of a tree. With fr ail support he managed to get near shore, but as he was stepping on to the bank, the branch snapped, and he was again carried off by the current and drowned. His body has not since been recovered. It is understood that he has a brother a brother a storekeeper living at Kingour, Victoria,—Grey River Argus, 30th June. In a lecture on “Law and Justice” recently delivered in Otago, Mr T. A. Mansfield, R.M., quoted, as a humble, but truthful, comment on the insolvency laws, the following lines, which he had seen written on the walls of a debtor’s prison:—Of aU the things that puzzle me. This one is mightiest odd j If a fellow can’t pay his debts when free, How can he pay in quod? The Hobart Town Mercury says: We learn from a private letter, that Capt. Rochford M'Gmre, commander of H.M.S.S. Challenger, has been appointed Commodore for the Australian station, vice Commodore Sir William S. Wiseman, Bart., C.B. The Challenger is a fine ship 400-horse power, and carries much heavier metal than the Curacoa. The Hobart Town Mercury states that the Theatre Royal is now used on Sundays for religiour services, by the Rev. John Wilkes Simmons. His style appears to be somewhat eccentric. His last text was “ A man’s a man for ’a that.” At the Sydney public wool sales on 29 th June, there was a fair average attendance, but there was little spirit in the bidding Greasy was easier. There was little washed wool offering. The scoured wool was mostly passed, excepting some from New Zealand. The fine stone building being erected by the Bank of New Zealand iii Cathedralsquare, Christchurch, is rapidly approaching completion, and already presents a very imposing appearance. The Bank of New South Wales is also clearing the ground in Here-ford-street for a new office, which is to be built of brick, with facings of Oamaru stone. It is stated that the Davenport Brothers arrived at Melbourne by the Ruahine, under assumed names.