The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1874.

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1813, 24 October 1874, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1874.

In the course of Captain Fraser's crossexamination at the Supreme Court the other day, re the Queen against Reed and Brett, it transpired that, some time after the hearing of the case against Manning

for breach of tho Quartz Crushing Machines Regulations and Inspection Act, three leaves had been abstracted from the Resident Magistrate's note book, containing the notes of evidence taken by Captain Fraser during the process of the case. When the Resident Magistrate vas asked to i produce those notes he had to explain the reason of his inability to do 80. We remember hearing a vague rumour months ago of this business, but nothing very definite was known—at least to us. Captain Fraser stated in evidence that the Clerk of the Court and the Police ■were the only persons who had access to the book from which the notes were abstracted. This implies an imputation of a very grave character, and should be cleared up in some way. Whatever object the depredator can have had in view in stealing the notes, wo cannot even guess at. They were valueless except that with them Captain Fraser would have been in a position to justify the language made use of by him in passing judgment on Manning. We do think that th« Gorernment should take this matter up and cause an enquiry to be made, with a view to discover who the offender is who had the audacity to pilfer the Magistrate's notes. It is a public matter, altogether apart from the libel case; and if our contemporary, whose proprietors recently stood in the "position of defendants for libel/ should feel disposed to relieve himself by a little strong language, here is a chance. Thereis no denying that the act was a most impudent one, and may be repeated in a case where the issue is a much more important one than the vindication of the character of an individual. If the Magistrate's note book is open to be tampered with in the very Court itself, there is very little security for the safe custody of other and more important documents. An enquiry into the circumstances connected with this business is imperatively demanded. At present it is shrouded in mystery, the unravelment of which would give infinite satisfaction to many who believs that Captain Fraser has • been in this matter shamefully betrayed. There is no suspicion attaching to anyone, but an imputation lies against those who had and have access to the Court at all times. The fact remains, that the notes were stolen and somebody stole them. Who the guilty one is every possible exertion should be made to discover.

The meeting held last night, to consider the desirability of establishing a High School on the Thames, was attended by a sufficiently large and respectable body of citizens to show that the necessity for some superior school in our midst has been recognised by those most interested, namely, the parents of children. The resolutions proposed and submitted to the meeting were unanimously adopted, and the only show of opposition—which was more apparent than real^—arose from the anxiety of one or two gentlemen lest the efficiency and future success of the common schools would be endangered by the establishment of a High School. Two of the speakers appeared to be under the impression that the funds for supporting a High School would be derived from the taxation raised under the Education Act. Such is not the case, as a perusal of the Act will show. This being explained, the arguments used by the speakers referred to w»re amongst the strongest advanced during the courae'of the meeting in favor of a High School. The business was put into proper training for bringing about the establishment of a High School, and every well-wisher of education will hope for a successful issue.

The Proclamation under the Immigration and Public Works Act, exempting a large tract of land in this district from the ordinary operation of the Native Lands Act, and preventing the alienation of Native lands except to the Government, expired on the 10th instant. Hearing this, a number of residents have, we learn, been dealing with Natives for their land, which may have the effect of complicating matters between the Government and the Natives, and between the Natives and such land purchasers. For the information of the latter we may state that we are credibly informed that a new proclamation, including a much larger area than the one which became void by effluxion of time, was signed by the Governor on or about the 10th, and was to appear in the first New Zealand Gazette published thereafter. But even supposing the proclamation to have lapsed, and no fresh one been issued, Mr. Mack ay informed Te Hira and others a,t Whakatiwai recently that there was not a block of land between Cape Colville and Te Aroha on which the Government had not paid money, so that private individuals who step in now cannot claim a lien on land to override the claim of the Government. There has been no contradiction of Mr. Mackay's statement, but a

corroboration in so far that a return was laid before the Assembly during last session of the blocks of land, and sums of money paid on account, under negotiation in this districtof Hauraki. Wementionthis matter so that those persons in treaty for native lands had better be cautious how they part with their money or they may have cause to regret, their bargain.