GOLD ROBBERIES.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 316, 19 March 1875, Page 2

GOLD ROBBERIES.

The following letter, in. answer to a memorial forwarded to Wellington, has been kindly handed to us for publication : • : -

Department of Justice. Wellington, 10th March, 1875. Sir,—l am directed by the Minister of Justice to acknowledge the receipt of ~ the memorial, signed /by you and other miners resident at Naseby, in which you express dissatisfaction with the insufficient punishment imposed by Magistrates on persons convicted of larceny from " tail-boxes " in alluvial claims, and suggest that, if -the- existing law sustains the Magistrates, fresh legislation should take place. In reply, I aui to inform you that Magistrates may send for trial any one accused of larceny, however small the amount stolen, if they think the case of sufficient importance ; but the law provides for dealing summarily with ordinary cases of larceny of chattels of small value. If the miners think the crime complained of has reached such a head as to require a severe example to be made, they should ask the Magistrates to commit' the accused for trial, and they will exercise their discretion, in the,matter. * ' I have the honor to be, ' Sir, ■ ■ • Xour most obedient servant, ,R. Gr. Fountain, , Under-Secretary. Mr. A. Simpson. ,