New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, March 30, 1850.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 486, 30 March 1850, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, March 30, 1850.

Within the last few days the community has been greatly excited by the discovery of a fearful murder committed on board theGeneral Palmer, a vessel which has been lying for some months past in this harbour condemned as unseaworthy. The unhappy victim of this dreadful crime was a lad of the name of Ellis about eighteen years old, formerly an apprentice on board the vessel, who from his previous good conduct had been left in charge as ship-keeper. It seems probable that the murder was committed about Sunday the 17th instant, that dsty being the last on which Ellis was seen alive. During the subsequent week, the usual signals previously agreed upon having been made from the General Palmer, nothing occurred to excite suspicion, but from information received by Messrs. Bethune and Hunter, Agents for the vessel, on Tuesday Mr. Bethune went on board, when he found 'Ellis missing and a stranger in charge whom he gave in custody. This man was brought before Mr. St. Hill the^Resident Magistrate on Tuesday and remanded for further examination on Saturday (this day). A subsequent search revealed the fearful fact that Ellis had been murdered under circumstances of peculiar atrocity, From an examination of the body it appeared that he had been shot, and struck several times on the head with an iron hammer, his throat was cut and his body was then forced into an old beef cask and put into one of the cabins on the poop of the vessel, and covered over with lumber- When discovered the body was in an advanced stage of decomposition. The principal facts connected with this dreadful crime will be found in the evidence given at the Coroner's Inquest, but it is to be remarked that the man Thompson, now in custody, must have slept for at least a week with Ellis's body at his feet, the body having been found in the next berth to that which he occupied. The men sus- i pected of this crime are escaped convicts, and it seems to be the impression that Ellis was murdered by them because he knew too much of their plans and refused to join them.. It is remarkable that in his waistcoat pocket was found a. small leather bag containing a sovereign, two shillings, and some smaller change. We refrain from making apy further observations on the case in its present stage, but we may take occasion to remind our readers that the more serious crimes in this settlement, as shewn by official returns, have been committed by runaway convicts, in order that they may be fully alive to the dangers from which they have been preserved Tjy their unanimous rejection of Lord Grey's proposal to send convicts to this Colony, for if the few who have escaped hither from the neighbouring Colonies have been the occasion of so many crimes what would be the effect of introducing some_ shiploads of such characters into New Zealand.

A reward of £50 has been offered by the Government to any one (not an accessary to the murder) who shall give such information as shall lead to the apprehension and conviction of the murderers of Ellis.

On Wednesday between the hours of twelve and two, while Mr. Duncan was in attendance as one of the Jury at the inquest on the body of Ellis, his stojre was broken into by forcing the back door, and the thief having succeeded in effecting an entrance proceeded to make up a bundle of blankets and other property. Having searched the lower part of the store he then went up stairs when, being overheard by the shopman in Mr. M'Beth's store, which adjoins Mr. Duncans, he retreated precipitately without being able to carr\ off his plunder. Mr. M'Beth's man gave chase, but the thief having a good start got clear off. A reward of ten pounds has been offered by Mr. Duncan for such information as will lead to the conviction of the offender.

Wb understand that the Artemisia has been chartered for the purpose of taking a cargo of timber, potatoes and other New Zealand produce to California. She is a very fine vessel and capable of taking a large cargo, and we are glad to find that this settlement is likely to participate to a considerable extent in the advantages of this trade, which cannot fail to give a powerful stimulus to the agriculture of this colony. Already the price of flour is £22 per ton, being much higher than it has been for a long time past, with a prospect of a further increase in price.

On Thursday the American whaling ship Orion was sold for £1675. The sperm oil part of her cargo realized from £55 to £59 ; 10 per tun, and the black oil £20 per tun.