AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume I, Issue 38, 28 June 1845, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

Mr. Waitford, a merchant in the Bay of Islands, having escaped many of the calamities which, on the 11th March, hefell his less fortunate neighbours, is about, to depart with his property from the devastated place in his own vessel, the I don't know, but is captured, vessel,

cargo, and all, by H.M.S, Hazard, by command of the Governor, and brought to Auckland a prize ; but under what law, or by what right of seizure, neither the owner, the Captain, nor any of the parties so disposed of, are apprised, in spite of every demand and remonstrance. The vessel being put under the surveillance of the new militia force upon the sde authority of the Governor, the owner is carried to jail — a secret search is made on board — and a secret examination of the prisoner is made in the Police office, — one of the magistrates sitting being one who had previously inquisitorially searched the vessel for the means of accusation, the information upon which such search was made being withheld. It seems that some suspicion, arising from those diverging and everlasting lines of instant and correct information which his Excellency boasts of in his " spider's web," gave him reason to know of large quantities of gunpowder, intended for Pomare, on board the I don't know ; but these suspicions were none of them realized, although the cargo was thoroughly ransacked, and ransacked without any shadow of legal authority ; in the meantime bail is refused, and Mr. Waitford, the owner, without being apprized of the cause of suspicion ormeans of denial, is locked up in a felons' jail for five weeks. Under legal advice, he sends his Captain on board to demand re-possession of the vessel and cargo in a peaceable manner, or some legal document or warrant for their detention, and he is half murdered and pitched into the sea by the militia subservients of his Excellency. The day of jail delivery arrives, and after all this secret and unexplained persecution, the grand jury refuse to find any bill against Mr. Waitford. The charge upon which an attempt was made to fix some crime in this case was the theft or dishonest possession of some books (two volumes and a paltry picture), rescued from the Maories, and belonging to a party for whom he had been kindly instrumental in saving similar property. But the most strange part of all these proceedings is, that after the master and owner of the vessel are acquitted by due course of law, no restoration or recompense is proposed : We beg pardon ! after the master had been half murdered and thrown overboard by the authority of the Governor, he was offered eighteen shillings a week to keep him during his Excellency's pleasure. Having given this narrative, we only ask — Can such tkings be, and overcome us like a summer cloud, without our special indignation ? Is all this rashness and self-will al all reconcileable with that rule, and order, and prudence, which are inseparable form a due administration of the government ? — Auckland Times. o