SOCIAL AND DOMESTIC.

Marlborough Press, Volume IX, Issue 594, 3 June 1868, Page 2

SOCIAL AND DOMESTIC.

On Sunday, the 18th of May, a large fire broke out in Wellington, causing destruction to the amount of about £14,000, of which £7,500 was covered by insurance. An inquest was held, but no evidence was adduced to show in what way the fire originated. At the Colonial Rifle Matches, which took place at Wellington, on the 27th May, the Otago men have again taken the Champion Belt, and indeed have taken every prize with the exception of two. Out of 12 prizes offered, Otago has won 10; and out of £250 in money, the Otago men have secured £220, to which must he added tlie Champion Reft, 6 medals out of 8, and two rifles, thus proving themselves individually and collectively the best marksmen in New Zealand. This is the-third consecutive year the Otago volunteers have carried off the licit. A noticable feature in the colonial prize firing this year was that of the appearance of the representatives of the Cadet Corps from Nelson. Marlborough, and Wellington. Amongst the sucessful competitors for prizes, is John Tait of the Marlborough Cadet Corps who had the honor of carrying off the first prize (a medal and purse of £10) ever offered to any members of Cadet Corps. Mrs Stafford presented the prizes to the various successful competitors. A Cadet Corps is now m course of formation in Picton. During the past month we have had a visit from 11 is Lordship the Bishop of Nelson. On Sunday, the 3rd May, Ilis Lordship conferred the right of Confirmation on several candidates ; and on the following evening was entertained at a public tea-party, at which he delivered a very interesting address. A report of the tea-meeting will he found in another column. His Lordship was entertained at a tea-meeting on the following Tuesday, at Blenheim, subsequently proceeding to the Kaikoura. This is the first official visit His Lordship has paid this province. The public health of the Province has been anything hut good during the past month, diptheria having broke out in Blenheim, and the measles in Picton, though the latter, fortunately, lias not appeared in any very virulent form. We are, however, sorry to have to record the sudden death of C. 11. Mo’fflt, Esq, who died at Blenheim, on the 6th of .May, of diptheria. There were two other deaths from diptheria, the one being the late Mr Moffit’s servant, the second, a son of Dr Horne’s. No deaths have occurred from the measles. Captain Mcllish. who for the last four years has held., the office of Resident Magistrate in Picton. lias .received instructions for liis removal to Kaiapoi, there to fill a similar office. Although sorry to loose the services of the Captain, who is greatly respected in the province, bmh in his private and public capacity, we can but recommend this economical action of Mr Stafford ; at the same time we hope to see no sort of favoritism shown, and that all districts will he made to share ,l fair and fair ” alike. Dr Muller, the Resident Magistrate of Blenheim, has, we believe, been appointed to pay Picton periodical visits, for the purpose of hearing and determining any eases that may occur ; but it will of course he necessary to retain the services of a clerk, so that any business that can. such as the issuing of summonses, &c., may tie facilitated. During the past month Messrs Marks and Co., who have for the last five years been resident merchants in Picton, have disposed of their business to Messrs Kuturner and Co., of Wellington. Mr Hanson Turton has, we notice, commenced the practice of his profession as Barrister and Solicitor, in Blenheim. and has succeeded the late Mr Moffit, in liis business. This gentleman lias also, we believe, been appointed Crown Prosecutor for the Province. The sitting of the District Court was held in I’i'ton on Wednesday last. There was only one ease put down for hearing. The same Court sat at Blenheim, on the following Monday ; hut only one case—larceny—was brought on for trial, and the prisoner acquitted. Prospects are slightly brightening in the Pelorus district, a good many diggers having returned from the West Coast and set into work again. During the past month we have been visited by a larger number of steamers than usual, competition evidently being rife between the Panama and New Zealand Co’s boats. The Scotch Minister for Picton is expected to arrive here per first steamer. The Governor is to visit the South Island immediately after the sitting of the Genneral Assembly.

FENIANISM

The trial of the State prisoners, Larkins, Manning, and others, concerned in the late Fenian riots at Hokitika, and Messrs Larkins and Manning for seditious libel, commenced at Hokitika on May the 18th, and, characteristic of New Zealand, the once raging fire of Fenianism has ended in smoke. All the prisoners were found guilty of “ unlawful assembly,” and were fined £2O each ; whilst Larkins and Manning have only been sentenced to one month’s imprisonment, they having pleaded guilty to the seditious libel charge. Mr Ireland, late Attorney-General of Victoria, defended the prisoners, having come from that colony purposely, and receiving, so a private letter informs us, £IOOO for his services. A Westland paper says “ that universal sat.isfacis felt at tlie sentence of the judge ” 'Finis ends the great Fenian trials of the West Coast 1 While on the subject of Fenianism we mav again refer to the assassin O’Farrell ; and while doing so, we may remark that we trust that this

is the last occasion we shall ever have of mentioning his name in print. O’Farrell suffered the extreme penalty of the law on the 21st of April. An account of his execution will be found in another column, as also the statement left by the prisoner, in which he expresses sorrow for the attempt made on the life of the Duke of Edinburgh, and denies ever having had anything to do, except in an indirect manner, with any Fenian organization. Of course there will be a great hue and cry when the news reaches home, which it has no doubt ere this; and, for a while, the greatest indignation and disgust at the colonies and colonists generally will be aroused, a nine days’ wonder will ensue, and the event will then be engraved on the pages of history.