OUR PRISONERS.

Manawatu Times, Volume V, Issue 171, 9 November 1881, Page 2

OUR PRISONERS.

Te Whiti has refused to comply with the. ultimatum, as contained m the Proclamation, and m consequence, according to the promise of the Acting Governor, the old savage, together with his brother fanatic, ToHU, and the murderer Hiroki were arrested by our forces on Saturday last The question now arises, what is to be done with the two former ? As to Hiroki, his fate is sealed to a certainty. He is amm <!crer, »ud m icffibi blood took the life of poor M'Lbau; and consequently, the people of the Colony will demand that he be hung. But as to Te Whiti and Tohtt. It is argued by some, that no crime has been committed by either and thei'efore cannot be put upon a trial. In this argument we do not concur, for to say that no indictable crime has been perpetrated by them is ridiculous m the extreme. In the first place, he has sheltered, aided, and abetted the murderous Hiroki, and Tito Kowabu, both viVans of the blackest dye, and even if every other resort failed, he could be imprisoned for harboring these criminals. In fact the list of his offences appear to us quite long enough to give him a lengthened term of imprisonment, by the end of which the West Coast could be thickly populated, and the Prophet would have lost every control and power over bis deluded followers. But perhaps Te Whttt's greatest crime has been the Betting at defiance the laws of our country generally, and the West CoaßtSettlement Act of 18R0 m particular. Of this Act we shall quote a few clauses referring to the settlement of the West Coast: — " (1) Any person who wilfully and unlawfully obstructs any person authorised by the Governor to do or perform any act or thing m pursuance of this Act, or for the purpose of carrying out the provisions thereof. (2) Any person who wilfully and unlawfully cuts down, breaks, removes, or destroys any building, bridge, fence, survey pegs or stations, or other erection whereby- the pnblic peace may be en H angered. (3) Any person who wilfully and unlawfully digs up. ploughs, breaks, or disturbs the surface of any land, whereby the lawful occupation thereof is obstructed or impeded. (4) Any person who unlawfully erects any fence or building on any land, or commons thereon any other act whereby the lawful occupation of such land may be obstructed or impeded. (5) Any person who wilfully or unlawfully digs up, breaks, removes, or destroys the surface of any road which the Governor, by notice m the Gazette, has declared tobeahighway, or places or causes to be placed thereon any obstruction, with a view of hindering or impeding the free use of such road or highway wholly or m part by Her Majesty's subjects. (6) Any persons who assemble together, armed or unarmed,or with or without tools or implements, for any of the purposes or objects aforesaid, orare presentat the commission of any such offences or acts as aforosaid for the purpose of aiding, assisting, or countenancing the commission of any such, acts or offences as aforesaid, or, being present, may reasonably be suspected to be present for all or any of such

purpose* or objects." It would appear to uh that the Prophet could easiiy be indicted and convicted ! under the sixth clause, supposing he may have managed so successfully to evade the others. The penalty laid down for a breach of the foregoing Act, is imprisonment, and if this were liberally meted out to, Tb | Whiti, Tohu, and other agitators of the Maori mind, there is little doubt but that the Native difficulty will have been solved ; therefore, the whole Colony upholds the Government m the highest terms for the decided, and determined manner m which fchoy have set to work to permanently establish the peace of the country.