THE LONG HURST CASE. [BY TELEGRAPH.-PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Last night.

Waikato Times, Volume XX, Issue 1675, 31 March 1883, Page 2

THE LONG HURST CASE. [BY TELEGRAPH.-PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Last night.

A diumjtvtiov waited on His JSvcelloncy at, 11. 30 to-day, and piescnted a petition for the release of the prisoner Longliarsl. Amongst those present wcic Messrs C. Johnstono and W. Hutchison, M.H11., His Woiship the Mayor, and seveial m ell-known citizens. 'J'he lion. Messis Dick and Jlolluston entered the room with His Excellency. Several members of the deputation addressed His Excellency, and they expressed that such doubts had been tin own on prisoner's guilt that the prerogative of mercy should step in The Governor replied : Gentlemen, — Before teferring to tile' petition \\ Inch you haVe presented, I wish to remark that in other , places it has been my invariable rule to refuse to receive deputations having for their object the influencing of the Governor or his advisers in matters relating to action which he or they may, in the interests of the public, cousuler it his or their duty to take concerning sentenced passed by courts of law. It is, theicfoic, not without some hesitation that I consented to receive this deputation, though, taking, all the circumstances into consideration, I arrived at the conclusion that it would be advisable 'to do $6. I wish it, however, to be distinctly understood that my present action is not to be drawn into a precedent. As regards the petition itself, there are some statements the accuracy of which I am not prepared to admit, and there is one suggestion contained in it to which I mutt give an unqualified denial. I allude to the paragraph wherein it is suggested that the case, of Longhnrst was not fully laid before me before the decision was arrived at which has already been communicated to previous petitioners. The fact is that the whole of the evidence given on' both trials was printed from the judge's , notes. Both 1 the Government and I ' myeielf were able to confer unreservedly with ,the judges, themselves, and there was every oppor-, tunity afforded to everyone concerned of deliberately weighing all the circumstances before arriving at the conclusion on the previous petition respecting this distressing case. It ' appeal's .to me that the present petition, except as regards the statement to which I have referred, is, in the main,' a reiteration of the points which have already been advanced, and which have been duly considered. At the 'same time, , I need, scarcely say ■ that any new. and authenticated %fact 3% fact 3 that may be adduced shall be fully weighed. Gentlemen, .your petition, and the,. representations which you have made shall be most carefully considered, both by myself and by my, ministers, and the result of such further deliberations shall be communicated to you. ,t, t i

, j Th^e Paps correspondent, of the Manchester Courier tells an interesting and romantic story of Louis Blanc's marriage. When the Republican leader first took refuge iv England/he lodged in Newmanstreet, Oxford-street. One day on returning home .Louis Slanc found that his study} hacV been Jrifle'd' of its contents, among , which were certain documents v6ry compromising to some oMiis friftnds in Parish j ( The, exile's distress wa3 great, , and the niece of an old lady who lived in k the .house, pitying, his grief, betrayed the faclj that her aunt , had ( "been bribed by Bonapartist agents to steal papers, preparatory to, being removed during the I night. The^oljd lady, discarded her niece, rM r ho,,siabsecLuently became Mcluie. ,Loujs. ii^^i^v'^ f - ' -■':/.• \ , !'f