REMARKS OF JUDGE GILLIES on the NATIVE PRISONERS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1074, 16 May 1882, Page 2

REMARKS OF JUDGE GILLIES on the NATIVE PRISONERS.

In discharging the Native prisoners charged under the West Coast Settlements Act at the Supreme Court, Judge Gillies said:—“l understand that the Attorney-General ordered the Crown Prosecutor to enter a nolle prosequi in two Native cases under the West Coast Settlement Act. I have no right to interfere in the matter in any way except to express my surprise at such a course being taken as that the prisoners should be brought up on various charges uuder a special Act, that they should be kept in prison for six months on that grave charge, and that the Crown Prosecutor should then apply for leave to enter a nolle prosequi. It seems a very extraordinary proceeding on the part of the Government, more especially when I see that two of the indictments have been quashed on account of insufficient evidence on the face of them.” Then, addressing Hangi, he said : —“ The Government have determined not to bring you to be tried on the charge you have already been in prison some months waiting for, nor does the Government offer any evidence. You arc therefore free to go where you will.” The Natives did not seem to understand the situation, but they left the box.