THE ARREST, EXAMINATION, AND COMMITTAL OF FENIANS AT THE WEST COAST.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3351, 13 April 1868, Page 3

THE ARREST, EXAMINATION, AND COMMITTAL OF FENIANS AT THE WEST COAST.

Thk Eenian prisoners— William Larkin, John Manning, James Clark, William Melody, and John Barrett — were brought before the Resident Magistrate at Hokitika, on March 28, charged with riot. The authorit es considered it necessity to exercise caution in guarding against any tumult which might arise, as a great many of the partisans of the prisoners were known to be in Hokitika. Strong bodies of special constables guarded their passage from the police camp to the Court house, which latter building was carefully defended. The men presented a wearied and care-worn appearance, and met with little sympathy from the crowd. Mr. Harrey, in conjunction with Mr. Button, appeared for the Crown, while the prisoners were undefended. After one witness (Detective Brown) had been examined, the prisoners were remanded until the Ist of April.

SEDITION. A second information was laid against William Joseph Larkiu and John Manning, of Hokitika, printers, that on the Ist, 15th, 22ad, and 29 th days of Norember, 1867, and on the 3rd, lObh, and 24 tb, and 31bt January, 21st and 28th February, 6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th March, 1868, at Hokitika, they did unlawfully, wickedly, maliciously, and seditiously write, print, and publish certain false, wicked, malicious, scandalous, and seditious of and concerning our Sorereign Lady Queen Victoria, and her Government, against the peace of our Lady the Queen, her Crown and dignity, and against the form of the statute in that case made and provided. The prisoners were undefended. Mr. Harvey, for the prosecution, applied for a remand in this case also. The prisoner Manniug, addressing his Worship, said that the crime with which they were charged was of so grave a nature that he could not be prepared with his defence by Wednesday next, and, as bis Worship had acceded to the request in a former case, he thought he was entitled to expect that his request for a longer remand would be complied with. His Worship had no objection at all to granting a longer remand in the present case. Mr. Harvey said that it was not the wish of the Government to throw any obstacle in the way of the prisoners preparing their defence. He thought, however, that their object would be better achieved by letting the remand stand as it whs (until Wednesday), and then asking for a further remand on that day, as they would then know the specific libels with which they were charged. The prisoner Maiming said he wished to draw his Worship's attention to the treatment they received at the lock-up. They had no lights, no chaira ; in fact, they were treated like felons, as if they were the lowest in society. Inspector Brohatn said it was just the reverse of what the prisoner had stated. Manning said he had nothing to say against the police, but the accommodation was such that they thought they had not been prepared for them. Bis Worship remarked that he could not make a drawing-room of the lock-up, but he would make inquiries into the statement, and would see that they were not subjected to any unußual restraint. Remanded until April Ist.

The West Coast Times of the 2nd instant Bays :— The seven prisoners — Larkins, Manning, Melody, Clarke, Barrett, Harron, and Hannon — charged with riot, were brought up, on remand, at the Resident Magistrate* Court yesterday. The evidence of Detectives Dyer and Brown, the Town Clerk, and Sherlock, reporter, was taken, and the prisoners were remanded until this day at 11 o'clock. Great interest Wfcs manifested by the public, the Court being crowded. Mr. Aylmer, J.P., sat on the Bench with Mr. FitzGerald, R.M.. The services of the special constables were called into requisition, co guard the approaches to the Court house, and to escort the prisoners to and from the lock-up. A. oecond edition was issued from the Nelson Colonist office on the 3id instant, containing the following : —

Friday, 3 p.m. A telegram just received announces that the prisoners Larkin, Manning, and others have been remanded till Saturday for the production of further Crown evidence. The prisoners again applied to be admitted to bail, but the application was again agaia refused on the ground that it would be dangerous to the public peace. The Wellington Evening Post of the 6th has the following: — We understand that Father Larkin and the other prisoners have been committed for trial by the Resident Magistrate at Hokitika.