South Canterbury Times, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1880.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2343, 20 September 1880, Page 2

South Canterbury Times, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1880.

.Boxing Dav, made famous as tho anniversary of the Tinnmi riots, is fast approaching, and the Tiinaru rioters liavc not been dealt with. Tlio earth on which wc reside lias nearly completed another circuit of the sun since the oii’enders were originally apprehended, and yet wc find the day of judgment indefinitely postponed. The time that has been allowed to elapse has so blunted all recollection of the events that to administer punishment now would only add to the triumphs of the convicted law-breakers, by making them appear to be the martyrs of a vindictive and relentless prosecution. As the proper period for the vindication of (lie majesty of the law has been allowed to slip by, it would probably be as well for insulted justice to pocket the affront she received and shake hands with the remaining remnant of the Waimato savages. This graceful act of clemency wc strongly recommend for the sound reason that to proceed farther with what appears to be a farcical prosecution, would, wc .submit, be most impolitic. To go farther would only bo to run the risk of converting a moderately amusing burlesque into a veritable Punch and Judy show and giving the world another amusing illustration of the hanged hangman. The display of Impotence already afforded by the executioner is quite snllicient. Wc have bad one of the best examples on record of justice on the deferred payment .system in connection with a criminal suit in Chancery, and it might be as well to proclaim an amnesty.

But if the rioters arc forgiven, the riots will not be forgotten. The circumstances connected witli them have a semi-comic aspect. They will be recollected ns a strange mixture of farce and tragedy. The intimidation of the police, a magistrate insulted and delied, the Biot Act disregarded, a peaceful procession pro. vented, the population alarmed, a holiday spoiled, public houses closed, batons made and distributed, special constables sworn in, volunteers on the alert, armed policemen from North and youth—from Wellington and Dunedin—all ending in what? in veritable smoke ; virtually in a complete triumph for the aggressors. For this we blame nobody in particular. We do not insinuate that in this instance Justice on her throne has allowed hersell; to be overawed and swayed by the counsel for the accused, although we can imagine that Air Stout must laugh heartily in his sleeve. It may be asked for what purpose were the rioters of last Boxing day prosecuted ? Why was a judge employed and a jury empannelled ? How is it, that although the jury has convicted months ago, no sentence has been pronounced ? These are questions that the representatives of the law can best answer. If the problem were presented to us we should at once give it up. Everything appears to have been done in a regular and methodical manner. The time that has elapsed between conviction and sentence is probably another instance of the law’s delays. Nearly twelve months is a long time for the sword to bo suspended. Unless the offending ones arc as innocent as sheep in a well-fenced paddock it will be an impossibility to round them up again. If they refuse to muster for sentence when wanted, their bondsmen can hardly be hold accountable. Some may be dead, and others may have emigrated to other lands, where they wili he able to relate with much gusto bow they sat upon law and order in New Zealand. As we have suggested, the curtain had better be allowed to drop. The spectators have witnessed enough of the farce, and the last act may very well be excised. The pipe of peace has been smoke:! and the hatchet should be buried decently. The agony has been prolonged long enough, and those of the law-

breakers who are susceptible to social and moral influences must be sufficiently punished by a year of suspense. The Acting-Governor should bo invited to distinguish himself by granting them a free pardon. But when the holidays again arrive and processions are on the tapis, the public should be prepared to deal with any exigency that may arise in a way that will convince offenders against law and order, that although His Honor Judge Lynch has not yet been introduced to New Zealand, the popular will, when aroused, can produce a very good substitute.