LATEST AUCKLAND NEWS. [BY TELEGRAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Waikato Times, Volume XX, Issue 1710, 21 June 1883, Page 2

LATEST AUCKLAND NEWS. [BY TELEGRAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Alleged Attempt to Bribe Undersecretary Lewis. Auckland, Last Night. Tur.Rß was a Luge attendance at the Police Comb thU moiiiiug to hear the charge against William Vickors Stevens, for " that he, did unlawfully, wickedly and corruptly otter to give to one Thomas William Lewis, he being Undei-Secie-tary of the Native Department, as ci biibe, recompense and reward, the sum of two hundred gu'nsas, tor him unlawfully, unjustly and ountiary to the duties of his said office, to endeavour to procure the piuchase bj' (io\ eminent of certain laiuls iv which Stevens had an intciest, Messrs Theo. Cooper and Dufaur appeared for defendant, and Mr Hudson Williamson, Ciown Solicitor, conducted the pirjsi cution. Mi "Williamson bliefly st.ited the cit> cumatanccs. The prosecution was ono instituted by («o\ eminent, and was also one in which they weie. specially concerned. The JO <ecuti\c, being le^pon&ible for purity of adiiimisttation, deemed it to be their duty to hi ing the case against Stevens, believing thu offence to have been a gross attempt to inteifeie with the punty of administiation. The Executive had leason to believe that hitheito olfenccs of this chaiaotcr had been of too frequent occurrence, and this was especially so at tlie Noithern end oi the colony. For obvious reasons it had been impossible to bring prosecutions against the offenders. Mr Lewis, who would be the principal witness for the prosecution, was acquainted with Stevens, who had sometime ago occupied a responsible position in connection with the Treasmy. At that time Mr Lewis Mas connected with the Native Office. Soon after Stevens' rotnement from his oflieial position, he came to Auckland aud commenced business as a commission agent. Mr Lewis met him here in December, aud accepted an invitation to his hou&u. There was a conversation which Mr Williamson entered into at length, and subsequently a letter was wutten, which formed the gionndsof this pioiectition. The laud which was referred to was on the Coiomandel Peninsula, y^ m was known as Matamata-Harakeke.^TM| fendant was evidently awaie thtftfj^H tiling Mr Lewis would say woul^^^H the effect of influencing the disposr^^^H the land. Mr Lewis indignantlj^^^H scornfully rejected the biibe °ff^f^^H the letter, and wrote to Stevens to H^| effect. Defendant called upon Sir Le\\™ subsequently, aud pleaded that his letteim had been misundetstood. He said he haw no intention to offer to bribe, bu™ merely mentioned it as compensation for trouble taken. Mr Lewis declined ttfl have any further communication with! Stevens, except in writing, and the latteil sent another letter that day, in which h< J again disclaimed any intention of offering a bribe. This explanation was, however, not considered satisfactory by the Government, and, subsequently, this actiou was commenced. The letter on which the cearge was based was produced by Mr Lewis as follows :— -'• IS7 Queenstieet, Otli December, 18S2. My dear Mr Lewis, — Since speaking to you yesterday re my. land, I have thought that although you cannot do anything in the matter directly, you might casually allude to it and say you know the Stevens, and think they wish to sell. I do not wish you to do anything to compiomise yourself at all, but as every labourer is worthy of his hire, and as the sale just now would materially benefit me, I would gladly make a present of 'two hundred guineas if the sale was brought*

about. In the meantime I will net upon your advice mid speak to Mr Gill about it, but I think it would do a lot of good perhaps if you were, to prepare the way a little. The land adjoins the Coromaiidel Goldh'elds, and must eventually be a portion of that goldfiold, and might ultimately prove a largo fortune to me. but, as I said befoie, money at the present time is of more value. Knowing yon will do what you c.\n, I leave it in your hands. — I am, -Ye , Walti-'H Y. Stkvkns.*' Air Lewis immediately laid it before the Nathe Minister. Mr Cooper, for the dufi-nec, contended that no biibe was offered, but even if a bribe had Wen tendered theic was no offence m law, because Lewis had no authority in the Land Put chase Dep.utincut, and could not have corruptly used his office in the direction asked for. The Magistrate reserved his decision on this point till Satuulay.

Mining. Salt's, to-ilny : Impciials, o(te to 51s ; Queen of iWuty, 20s, 12s Mis, closing buyers, los fid.