HOKITIKA.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 946, 26 May 1868, Page 3

HOKITIKA.

Hokitika, May 18. The trial of the prisoners for unlawful assembly commenced this morning. The indictment contains eleven counts. Mr. Ireland raised many technical objections, but they were all virtually overruled. The special jury having been sworu, the Attorney-General opened the case for the Crown, and called Sergeant Dyer, who gave evidence as to the procession, the forcible entry of the cemetry, and to the existence of a general feeling of alarm. The second witness Detective Browne, is now under examination. Hokitika, May 19. The case for the Crown closed at noon. Mr. Ireland addressed the jury for two hours. Mr. Eees is now following, being specially retained for Manning and Larkins. The trial is expected to terminate to-night.

Hokitika, May 21, 4 p.m. The trials have just closed. All the prisoners have been found guilty of " unlawful assembly," and fined £20 each. To the charge made against Larkins and Manning of " seditious libel," both prisoners pled guilty and were sentenced to one month's imprisonment each.

Overland from Patea. — Several persons have arrived at JSTew Plymouth overland from Patea, without any molestation from the natives along the track. A Centenarian.— An old Maori chief, named Kaikoura, whose ago is stated to be over 100 years, has lately died near the Amuri pah from a fall from a horse. Health of Wanganui. — Measles are at present very prevalent at. Wanganui, whero the schools "are largely deserted. Fortunately, however/ ; the epidemic is of a mild type. General Chute.— The detachment of the Koyal Irish at Taranaki have been inspected by General Chute. The General is reported to haye condemned the barrack accommodation for the married couples. The JN t ew Maori Member. — A large meeting of natives was held on Thursday, the 15th inst., in commemoration of the battle of Moutoa, at London, the chief settlement on the Wanganui river, when the recently elected Maori representative, Mete ICingi, was present to meet his constituents. The tribes number 880 men, and as a token of their confidence and approval they presented Mete .Kingi with a greenstone weapon, three native garments, and the sum of £13 7s (3d, this being given, wo presume, with the idea of paying him for representing them. — Wanganui paper.

Honorable Oouetship. — We heard a very pretty incident, the other day, which we cannot help relating. It appears that a young lady from the South was wooed and won by a youthful physician living in California. When the engagement was made the doctor was rich, having been very successful in San Francisco. It had not existed many mouths, however, when, by an unfortunate investment, he lost his entire " heap." The loss overtook him, it should be added, just as he was about to claim his bride. What did he do ? Why, like an honorable and chivalrous young fellow as he was, he wrote to the young lady, giving her the particulars of the unhappy turn which had taken place in his fortunes, and assuring her that if the fact produced any change of feeling towards him, she was released from all the promises she had made. And what did she do, the dear, good girl P She got a lump of pure gold, which her lover had sent her in his prosperity as a keepsake, and, having it manufactured into a ring, forwarded it to him, with the following Bible inscription engraved in distinct characters on the outside :— " Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee ; for whither thou goest, I will go, and where thou lodgcst, I will lodge ; thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God ; where thou diest I will die, and there will I bo buried ; the Lord do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part mo and thee." The lover idolised his sweetheart more than ever, when he received this precious evidence of her devotion to him both in storm and sunshine. Wo may add that fortune soon again smiled upon the young physician, and he subseqixently returned to the South to wed the girl he loved, and who loved him with such an undying affection. Young ladies who read the Bible, as the heroine of this incident seems to have done, are pretty sure to make good sweethearts and better wives. — Louisville Journal.