The Nelson Evening Mail. THORSDAY, SEPTEMBEB 17, 1868.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, 17 September 1868, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. THORSDAY, SEPTEMBEB 17, 1868.

IMaVMnnM«nMaMHKHBBMB«M«HHMBn«nMiMMMMai A short time since, we were startled by ft telegram stating that Mr Parkes, the Colonial Secretary of New South Wales, whilst addressing his constituents at Kiama, had made the terrible revelation that he was in possession of evidence which left no doubt in his mind that not only was the assassination of H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh planned a month before Jhe arrived in that colony, but that some individual who was in the confidence of tbe conspirators, and who evinced a disposition to betray the dreadful secret, had been foully murdered to prevent discovery. Here, ia truth, was as dark and hideous » story ss the wickedness of man cottld tealiae, one tho b&re contemplation of wimh was enough to make every honest

i man shudder with horror. But it may fairly be asked — and the inhabitants of this colony, which is shortly to be honored by a visit from the Prince, have an especial interest in making the enquiry — why have we not heard of this dreadful tale before? It is indeed most singular tbat neither the press, nor the people of Sydney should ever have heard a syllable about ifc until Mr Parkes chose to divulge it as a dainty dish of horrors for the especial delectation of his Kiama constituents. Ifc seems not altogether impossible, judging from precedents, that the story may be a pure figmeut of Mr Paikes's brain, but much as we may desire, for obvious reasons, to entertaiu such a belief, it is, ou the whole, so improbable, that we may dismiss the idea, for Mr Parkes states that he has in his hands affidavits concerning the crime. One thing is pretty clear — the dead man could swear no affidavits about the murder, and therefore they musfc have been made by some living man cognizant of tbe deed. Is he in the custody of the Sydney police? New Zealaud papers for a considerable time contained advertisements offering 1 immense sums for the discovery of O'Far- ; rell's presumed accomplices — why was not some of this money offered for the discovery of this horrible outrage? The murdered man, doubtless, had a form of flesh and blood, he lived somewhere, he ' ate and drank at some house, and however great a stranger he might bave been some one in Sydney must have kuown somewhat about him. Why had he not been missed? Wherei is his body? Months have passed away since the attempt upon the Prince's life, and save the alleged existence of Mr Parkes's affidavits, Dot a solitary particle of fact seems to be kaown about this new crime, its perpetrator, or ite victim. This is surely a state of things which will uot be tolerated for a moment in a free country like New South Wales. Mr Parkes is not, and cannot be, the sole possessor of all power aud authority. He caunot restrain or impede justice in pursuit of a criminal, while he excites the nerves of his constituents at Kiama with the sensational story of a dark and bloody tragedy. Such conduct is surely a danger to the State, and utterly subversive of public order. It is, however, as well to bear ki mind in accepting the revelation made by Mr Parkes, that he has on more thaa one occasion lately — perhaps by accident, lefc us trust not by design — delivered himself of statements well calculated to intensify ond prolong the unhappy differences which have recently arisen amongst the people of New South Wales, and that these have proved to be altogether unworthy of serious notice, lhe honorable gentleman is not a fool, to be deceived by flimsy assertions; he is a man of much ability, and as well able to estimate the trustworthiness of an affidavit as most men are ; we may therefore believe that these documents mustpioceed from an individual worthy of credence in so important a matter ; or else Mr Parkes is— we prefer to lefc oiir readers fill up the sentence. One thing, however, is quite certain, and that is that theso colonies are ail interested in holding Mr Parkes to a strict account for his assertions at Kiama, and thatthe arrival from Sydney of more satisfactory information on this subject than we at present possess will be anxiously looked for in New Zealand, where the revelation has naturally created so painful a sensation.

Saturday's Provincial Government Gazette notifies the appointment by his Honor the Superintendent of J. H. Lowe, Esq., to be District Engineer of the Nelson South West Goldfields; of Charles Broad, Esq., as Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, for the district of Charlesj ton, and of S. G. Rowley, Esq., as Clerk of the Resident Magistrate's Court at Cobden. The following are also appointed clerks to the Wardens, Courts on the Nelson Goldfields: — Charles Hugh Webb Bowen, Charleston j John William Lynch, Brighton ; Caleb Whiteford, Westport ; Skelton George Rowley, Cobden ; Patrick Sweeney, Camptowu; William May berry, Ahaura. The Gazette also notifies thafc the Governor 'has been advised not to exercise his power of disallowance' in respect of the following Acts passed by the Provincial Council, and assented toby the Superintendent: — Leasing of Public Wharves Act, Cattle Slaughtering Act, Appropriation Act, - Goldfields Licensing Act, Scab Act, aud Cai tie Trespassing Act. "

\ Our Taranaki files, which reached us by the Phoebe this moruiug, mention the sudden death of Mr James Yems, one of the earliest and most highly respected settlers in that province. A reward of £10 is offered for the convictiou of the individual or individuals who have broken and otherwise damaged the fireplugs iv Brook Street Valley. We heartily trust that the perpetrators of such senseless mischief may be brought to justice. It seems not improbable that the division on Mr Fu>:'s no-confideace resolutions may be prolonged evon beyond this eveuing. JMr M'Leau the Superintendent of Hawke's Bay, haviug last night moved that the House views with alarm the position in which the? colony is placed by the action of the General Government relative to native affvirs This is likely to provoke considerable discussiorj, aud Mr Stafford has already replied to Mr. M'Lean's powerful aud telling speech, on the motion, which showed thatthe Hawke's Bay settlers were exposed to considerable danger by the removal of fche Armud Coustabalary. Au act of the most brutal cruelty ha 3 besn brought under our notice as having beeu been committed yesterday by a man named Gilson, a carter, residing iv Grovestreet, in tho Wood. It appears thafc Gilson was proceeding with his cart heavily loaded with wood up Bronti-street, about midday yesterday, when the horse found itself unable to drag the load up the hili near Mr Sclanders' residence. His owner, discoveriug this, at once commenced belaboring the unfortunate auiraal, inflicting violent blows on its head with the handle ofhis whip, in which he persisted ior full half-an-hour, until the poor creature fell back on his hauuehes, and expired. This barbarous act was witnessed by a large number of persons resident in the immediate neighborhood, whose expostulations on behalf of the suffering animal are stated to have been altogether unheeded by Gilson, who, it is reported, has treated two of his horses with similar brutality and with similar results. Much indignation has been roused by the occurrence, of which the police will doubtless take cognizance.