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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 17, Issue 1018, 16 May 1871, Page 2

The "Wangapeka correspondent of the Grey River Argus thus records a case of lynch law in that township ;—A darkie named Ellis haling been suspected of stealing some wine, the property of one of the hotel keepers, a tew of the boys took it into their heads to try him.. He was accordingly charged with the offence, and after some delay pleaded guilty, when he was sentenced to receive three dozen lashes, which punishment wa« administered on the spot by one of the judges. They were laid on with a hearty good will, a long coarse split shingle being the instrument of torture. I believe it did him more good than going to prison, and certainly cost the country less. He skedaddled the same night.

A Melbourne paper says that the keeper of a toll-bar was recently fined Im, with 26s cost*, for exacting toll from an undertaker who was conveying an empty coffin in his spring part from one place to another for the purpose of a burial. The tollkeeper would not let the man pass until he had paid 6d, but when the cart returnee;! with the coipse, he threw the money to the undertaker. It wai sot picked up, however. The funeral was that of a pauper, and the under taker was a person regularly employed by the Government for carrying funer--8.-3 of that »ort.