The New-Zealander.

New Zealander, Volume 5, Issue 320, 23 June 1849, Page 2

The New-Zealander.

He just and feur not: Let all the ends tliou aims't at, be thy Country's, '1 l»v (ion's, and Truth's.

SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 1849.

By the " Shamrock," schooner, from Launceston the 20th ultimo, which arrived on Wednesday, we have no public intelligence. Private letters, however, represent the present aspect of the lately prosperous northern capital of Tasmania as disastrous to the last degree. We quote the following from the letter of an old and intelligent resident. " Trade is nearly annihilated here. In fact, the mercantile community is entirely gone. A few low upstarts are our leading men, — these are commission agents who buy and sell for parties in England. Our present position is desolate—our future, I grieve to add, dark and cheerless."

We have, again and again, invoked the aid of the local authorities to the devising of some plan by which the streets and highways of Auckland may be rendered tolerably passable. Our appeals, hitherto, have fallen, seemingly, upon deaf or unyielding ears. At least, the patches upon our evil ways, like new wine in old bottles, have proved but botches — the cloutings and the patchings appearing but to work and to wear into the structuie of our thoroughfares, and to reduce them to more intolerable sloughs than ever. vIs there no remedy for such evils'? MusC our streets continue to be gtound into the slimy texture, such as a few hours of rain suffices to render them * — Mixed into a consistence of such adhesive quality as to become secure holding grounds for every moderate load attempted to be projected across their impermeable courses ? Look only at Queen-street, that regal paragon of miry ways ; — extend a glance up the bogs of its minor appendage, West Queen-street ; — consider the almost impracticable mud banks of Shortland-street ; and, without diverging into that filthiest, yet busiest of the haunts of men, High-street, proceed onwards to Princes-street (recently made good at a very considerable expense) , and even there, at the turn by the church, it will be seen that unless precautionary measures be adopted, this really noble thoroughfare will soon be worn into ruts and ruin. There is no more prolific, yet reasonable, source of grievance than the dreadful condition of the streets of Auckland. They are most injurious, 11 not only to the convenience, but to the prosperity and the health of the inhabitants. They strike every stranger with disgust, and although we are perfectly aware that the construction of good streets in infant towns is one of the greatest difficulties which disturbs the quiet of the powers that be, still we cannot call to mind any nascent' capital which can at all contest the palm of miry celebrity with Auckland. Probably there is none where so constant a teeming of moisture prevails. But the very existence of this abundant moisture, which confers so superior a fertility on our soil, should compel those engineers upon whom the duty of form ing our roads devolves, to study at least the first elements of road-making ; so that these may be constructed upon such sound and scientific principles as shall enable them to offer reasonable resistance to the influences to v/hich they must be exposed, and be in some degree equal to the traffic they pretend to facilitate. At this moment, our streets are in ruts, and oui bridges in ruins. Private subscriptions, — principally those of carters and carmen, who levy this class subsidy to prevent the utter extinction of their trade — have been made, from time to time, to fill in the one and to cobble the other. In proof, .we need but instance the metal drawn, cartage fiee, to Shoitlaud -street, and the subscription platform thrown across the common sewer, at the point where that odoriferous stream intersects Queen and Wyndham streets. Now, really this is a very sad and a very sorry state of affairs. Such repaiys are, of course of the most make-shifty character, partaking of a marvellously similar efficiency to that very notable expedient, the stopping of a mouse-hole with toasted cheese. If the government be without the means of undertaking the construction of the streets of the town, a hint has been suggested to us, b y which it is imagined, this petty and almost profitless self taxation might be obviated, and a sum collected for the purpose of placing th* streets in such a state as to meet the emergencies of the inhabitants. The project to which we allude, is the raising of a fund, by general subscription ; such sum to be placed in the hands of a certain number of Street Trustees, to be elected by the inhabitants, the money to be appropriated under their direction, in payment of streets formed by contract, and under the authorized sanction of the local government, by whom this money should be regarded merely as a loan, the repayment of which it might guarantee by debentures, extinguishable at a reasonable date, and bearing a moderate interest. By some such project, — a species of inchoative municipalism — our townsmen and our local government might render much mutual good service, and the solid and permanent improvement of our highways be speedily attained. We are no advocates of volunteer taxation, nor do we entertain any undue partiality for this sketch in outline of a plan by which the ways and means of a Street Fund might be laised in loan. We throw it out more as a hint to promote investigation, and with a view that some more able projector may devise some expedient to extricate us from the mire in which we have too long continued to wallow. To those who may be disposed to look coldly upon any measure calculated to affect their pockets, we would merely remark, that whenever Auckland shall possess a Corporation, a city rate will compel an annual disbursement, instead of a temporary loan chaigeable with interest, such as we contemplate. And to the government, we would, on the other hand observe, that by encouraging some such measure, — by placing its workingdetails under the supervision of a committee of the inhabitants, it would evince a sympathy with the best interests of the settlement, by the true and practical service it would render to the commercial and sanitary welfare of the town

In'oui- last, we furnished the few particulars, then known, of the barharous murder of James Jones. Since then, an inquest has been held, by Dr. Davies, the coroner, which, after three days of patient and persevering inquiry, leaves the horrid deed involved in as great a mystery as ever. From the digest of the evidence of the two fiist days, which we give in our paper of this morning, it will be seen that suspicion, in the first instance, fell upon a native, who was brought before the Coroner's Court, but almost immediately liberated. From subsequent information, a carpenter named Daniel Reardon, and a woman called Mary Queenan, the wife of Francis Queenan, a pensioner resident at Howick, were taken into custody, and for some time a tolerably strong presumption of their guilt was generally entertained. The marked and peculiar expressions of the woman, her agitation at Green's public-house, and the earnest anxiety of the man to bribe Constable Henderson to permit him to escape, all seemed to point to the criminality of the prisoners. Nevertheless, as the evidence advanced, many doubtful and suspicious circumstances were cleared away, and it ■was shown, by lucid and all hut conclusive testimony, that at the hour in which Biggs declared he was in conversation with the deceased, that Reardon and the woman were then above two miles from the spot, and within sight of the dwellings at Panmure ; where, at dusk, they were seen by other witnesses in Green's public-house. Not a stain or a spot of blood was discernible upon the clothes or persons of either, and in the execution of a murder of such a ferocious description, and where the murdered man was pierced with so many wounds, it would seem impossible for the peipetrator to escape being sprinkled, whether in a greater or a lesser degree. The scratches upon the face and neck of the woman, as well as those upon the countenance of the man, were accounted for by a squabble which took place between themselves. These are the leading facts elicited ; but from the late hour at which the proceedings terminated, we cannot pretend to give even a precis of the third day's evidence, which closed at five minutes past eight, after which time it occupied the Coroner an hour and a quarter to read through the depositions. The court uas then cleared, and after a- deliberation of nearly forty minutes, the following verdict was pronounced. — "That on Monday, the 19th June, on the night of same day, on the road between Auckland and Panmure, some person or persons unknown to this Jury, did then and there strike and mortally Avound James Jones, with some sharp instrument, of which mortal wounds the said James Jones did then and there die." Reardon and Queenan were then discharged fiom custody, — and no clue to the discovery of this horrid deed, we regret to say, as yet exists. The inquest was held at the Panmure Inn, and subjoined are the leading particulars elicited during the two first days. The testimony of Robert Bipg", the first witness wa» to the efftct that on the night of the 18th instHut he met Jones (the murdered man) with a pig between Mr. Henrys farm and the tea-tree bridge on the Papa* kura road, about a quarter of an hour or twenty minutes after sun down. He was going toward* Papakura, a Maori bein£ on the road before Jones, with whom winess «xchati£<d the «tilutationi of the evening. Witness had been acquainted with deceased. Saw no other person than the deceased and native ou the road. The native was going the same way at Jone«, but they did not appear to be in company. Could not lay if the native were tatooed Jones had a bla-k pig in a 6tring with him. Saw no other person on the road besides the native and deceased. William Biggs, the son of the former witness, in coming with his. father from Mr. Henry's, metaMaoii «nd a white man on the road ne .r George M ay's farm. It was dusk. The Maori was in advance of deceaed, and on the other side of the road. My father and Jones exchanged good evenings. Jt was light enough for me to distinguirh the native— he had a banket with red stripe. Saw his face quite plain, and am quite sure he was talooed. The n-itive had no weapon that I could 6ee. His arms were rolled up in h 8 blanket. Do not think I should know the native again. Never to my knowledge saw bisn befoie. I have seen the body of the deceased, and am certaiu that it is that of the person who spoke to my father on that evening. 1 have teen a native in court, but he is not the native we met upon the road. Joseph Robinson, a pemioner at Howick, wai coining to vrork at Mr. Robinson's between 9 and 10 o'clock. I wai in company with Lawrence Condon, who works with me. On the way from Panmure we met a bny from Howick, named Roach, coming' towards us, as if from Auckland. He appeared to be greatly alarmed, ai.d running. He said there was a man lying on bis fare on the road in front of us, and much cut about the head, but could not say if he was dead or not. I told him to call at Serjeant Cleary's, and to give the alarm there, and that we would push on to s«e the body. We did so— the body was lying on its face and hands— it whs much cut about the back of the head, I told my comrade to remain by the body whilit I pushed on for the nearest house. There nai a black pig with a Btring to it rambling loose upon the road, near the body. Called at the neareit house, and saw three men, whom 1 called upou to go with me to view the body. This witness proceeded to state that ■everal pnrtiet had come to where the body was, and ' had turned it upon its back during hit absence. The threat w * tut. I remained till the policeman cmae, and then went to my work. There was a cut in one of the cheeks. It wa* about a mile and a quarter from Henry 'B farm where we fust saw the body T. F. McGauran, As«ia ant Coloniul Suigeor, examined, and made a post mortem examination ot the body of James Jonei, which exhibited one txtensive wound in the throat communicating with the civity of the mouth. 'Ihe external ctrotid aiti-ry and jugular vein of the left side were divided ; the corresponding vessels on the right tide were not wounded. The w,uud in tiie throat w«i nn incised wound, apparently

done with some iharji instrument. There wai several gtabs in the right cheek, together wth some penetrating stabs through both can. one penetrating the left eir traversed aWout five inches downwards and backwards ; a small splinter of the tkull was detached under this wound. I found six wound* on the back of the head, some of them about two inches in length ; these were all incised wounds, apparently inflicted with a sharp instrument. The long wound under the scalp was more a punctured wound than an incised wound. 1 found four punctured wounds in the back, one penetrating into the cav.ty of the chfs f , wounding the right lung, and penetrating into the pericardium. Thii wound was at least fix inches in depth. Two wounds were lower down — these were supeificial wounds. The lower wound in the back was very large, and of triangular shape, as if inflicted by two itabs, and penetrating into the cavity of the abdomen alongside the spine, There was another wound in the front | of the abd men, to the left of tha middle line, and penetrating into the cavity of the abdomen. The imall intestines were wounded in two placet. I found one wound on the left haad, bet«een the foiefinger and thumb—- this wai a punctured wound. The body has a very mutilated appearance. I think the penetrating wound in the pericardium was the most likely to occasion speedy death, but the wound of ihe throat was quite sufficient to cause death. There was no blood in the pericardium. The body evidently sbows a fearful lost of blood. All the wounds I have seen were most likely inflicted by a sharp instrument like a knife. The wound in the pericardium must have been inflicted with a long knife, such at a carving knife or a butcher* knite. It would hare been impossible for deceased to have inflicted those wounds himself. Ihe hody had the appearance of one who had resisted a good deal. All the wounds could have been inflicted with the same instrument, Ido not think the wounds I have seen could have been inflicted by a tomahawk. The kni r e now produced was likely to have inflie'ed wounds such as I found on the body. Lawrence Condon corroborated the teitimony of Joseph Robimon, and during his absence whil»t in quest of assistance, examined round the body, but could only distinguish the mark* of shoes wilb nails and tips on them — thtse corresponded with the shoes of the deceased. When the body was turned over, I observed a great gash in his throat, and hit cheek, chiu, and fingers were cut. We gave up the body to the police, telling them who we were. There was but little blood under the deceased, and 1 could not trace any blood or marks of violence in the neighbourhood. Bridget Jones, the wife of the deceased, iaith he left his house after breakfast on Monday morning, about eight o'clock, to (to to Auckland to buy pigi. On Monday night I was expecting him home, but be did not come. I kept a light for him all night. Yesterday morning I was told that roy husband was killed and lying on the scori». It was a daughter of Peter Kelly'i who told me that he was dead. I went I into the neighbourhood of wheie the body was lying, but could go no further. I do nut know any one who had spite or enmity against my husband. !'• was a very quiet m»n himself. He was a butcher. I would recognise the knife he was in the habit of using. The knife produced belonged to my husband. I gave thi* knife to a Maori v>ho was working at my husband's house. I gave it to him about four o'clock on Monday evening last to cut some raupo with. Tue native did not teturn to me that night with the knife. The blade of a knife produced I do not recognize as ever hnving seen belore. My husband and the native had no quarrel with each other. When my husband left me on Monday morning, he had three pounds fifteen shillings with him — he took it with him to buy pigs. Hit c'.oilus and his money were all he had about him. The native knew that I had given my husband the money I speak of m that morning. The native asked me abuut four o'clock where my husband was gone to, and I told him to AucUlaud to buy a pig. The poor woman was greatly affected during her examination, and the wailing of her children outside round the body of their rxurdered parent, caused her to start more than once in an involuntary manner towards 'he door. For which reason her evidence wai taken as briefly as possible. This closed the proceedings of the fir.st day. The native, who wai in charge during the cou te of this day, was dinharged. Thursday, thb Second Day. Thomas McLarnon, a carter employed by Government, brought the body from where it was iound to ihe P&nmure Inn. In taking out the tea tree which he had placed under the body, he heard the jiugling of something, which he discovered to be the broken blade ofacjrvfng knife, on which were some spots, apparently of rur, which speedily wiped off. The kni.'e could not hare been used in cutting the tea tree, because the po ice pulled and broke ie in putting it into the cart. Charles Du-br'dne, Serjeant of Pensioners, saw a man and a woman in Pamnure on Sunday morning, on their way to Auckland, and on the Monday night they returned lo Green's public house. The woman had lost the bonnet she wore on the Sunday. On the Wednesday morning he aga.n siw them outside of Green's, with their faces and necks sciatched, as if by finger nails. This they at'empted to account for by saying that they had been followed by two solditis of the 58th in blue frocks, and that the man engaged four Maories for his protection, and g*ve them three shillings between them. Alexander Henderson, private in the Police, being informed of the murder, proceeded to the spot, and j took charge of the body, until he surrendered it to Corporal Brown. Being told Lieutenant Gray wished to see me, I pioceeded to Panmure, and found Lieut. Gray had a native in custody on smp cion. Brought the native before the Coroner. From further information I apprehended two persons whom I have brought in this morning. The man's name is Dan lleardon, and the woman's name is Mary Queeuan. I heard they had leH Panmure with the intention of fjoing to ilowick. I diessed myself in coloured clothe*, aid started for How ok. When I reached the ferry, the native who took me acrosi, told me there was a man and woman in bed in a house on the other side. This was about halt past ten o'clock last night. I went and found them in bed fast asleep. The native belonging to the houie told me th*y had a bundle I examined ii, and found two shirts and a pair of mole*kin trowser?, there were no marks of blood on them, they were quite new. Having examined their wearing apparel, 1 went to the bed and pulled them out Dan tteardon said, "'Oh, ray God, wbat is this?" I answered " Oh, nothing, — get up and get us a glass of grog." He anked if <here was any giog in the place— be was tolJ not, and said he would send for it. He again got under the blankets, the woman was still in the be<i, but she was awake. The woman told me not to ill uae the man, and I said I did not intend 'o do so. When he went in under the blankets, be appeared as if he was c tiling her attention to him, and talking to her. She said lo the man, "if you attempt to put your hand upon me, I'll settle you " After bhe made use ol this expression, they seejaed to be very quiet. At thii time, I coniiJered him d unk, but not her. When he put his hand on her the second time, she said "I'll settle you, don't think to murder me." Inm tliately { lurttU this, I took both of them in

charge. At this time, Ido not think they knew me to bs a policeman, When I took him into charge, he said, "My God, what i 3 thii for ?" I told him to come along w»th me, he did not appear inclined to come. I then put the hand cuffs on him, and he resisted till be saw it wai of no use. The woman made no effort to rescue him. He asked me several timei for God's sake to let him go, and not take him into custody. I told him I would take him, and he gaid "he would die before lie went." He urged me to speak with him outside, and offered me two pounds to let him qo — he repeated the offer. The woman came to the door, and said "mind whit you are doin^, I know what money you have got." I then took them both away. During the time they were in the boat going to the lotk-up he was calling upon God to witnesi his innocence. I think he alluded to his drunkenness, She said " the devil't*skewer J to jou, why had you not less to say." On our way to the lock-up, we called at Mr. Green's, the pub'ican Mn. DurbiiHge who lives in Gieen's puM c house, told Mary Qucenau to come in, and get something to drink. Both the man and the woman had a gla^s of grog, after which I took them to the lock-up. I first locked up the man, and when I re.urned for the woman, I found the glass had taken great effect upon her. When I was about to remove her, she asked me to let her speak to Mr«. Durbridgein private. I did 10, but although lUs tened, I could not hear what the said. I placed her in a separate cell from the man. lam lure they had no conversation with each other. I took from Reardon £2 15.7fi1., a key, a ribbon, and a black ribbon. I started from Panmure about nine o'clock this morning. On his way hither, he w«8 clapping his hands, and appeared much disturbed in hit mind. When we came to the spot where we found the body, within about half a yard there wa» a collection of stones, and we came to a halt, no one with me mentioned (10 the best of my opinion), that that was the phce where Jones was murdered. When we came there he walked over deliberately and sat down on the stone heap. We remained there about five minutes and then came on for this place. lam satisfied he was aware of what he is accused of, from the expressions he made nse of to day. He said, "My God, is it not an awful thing that I should be accused of what I was never guilty of," and he kept on talking that kind of way the chief part of the road from Panmnre. This morning in the lock, up he asked me what he was accused of, I told him it was suspicion of the murder of Jones. When I first took charge of the body of deceased, I searched the pockets and fouud them empty. I made an external examination of Mary Qucenan's pockets, but I am sure she had nothing of consequence.