FATHER LARKINS DEPOSED.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 821, 18 April 1868, Page 1 (Supplement)

FATHER LARKINS DEPOSED.

Hokitilca, March 29. . Since the arrest of Fattier Larkins, Father McTaggnrfc preached at StafTord Town to-day (Saturday, the 29th), and afc the close of the service asked the people if they were willing that he should minister to them for the future. , As they required time for the consideration of this proposal, ho left to pleach at Waimea, three miles distant, they promising to gite him an answer on his return. The Stafford Town Roman Catholics thereupon held a meeting, and ifc was ultimately resolved to accept no other priest except Father Larkins, unless he advised them to do so. A deputy was then sent down to see Father Larkins at Ilokitika, bnt before an interview was permitted to take place by the authorities, Father Iressaut was sent for to ascertain whether he had received the necessary authority from the Bishopof Wellington to depose Father Laririne. It was found that he had the necessary power, bat bad not, up to that moment, thongLt it necessary to exercise it. It was ultimately agreed to depose" Father Larkins, and to publish the fact of hia de* position/ The deposition was then sent for, and the impolicy urged of adopting any hostile demonstration on behalf of Larkins, as he had been deposed, add the Bishop strongly condemned his proceedings^ Father Iressaut al«o stated to the deputation that Latkins was perfectly willing to sabtnit to the orders of the Bishop. Ultimately the members of the deputation w%ra "allowed to see Larkins, and found him to be all submission to his ecclesiastical superior; Larfeina, it is Baid, being 1 on the submissive tack, has almost induced Father Ireßsant to Betid a telegram to Bishop Viard, asking bim to recall the sentence of deposition. Larkins pressed Father Iressaut to do this^strongly, yet with mach abasement—urging that it would be well to recall the sentence, as such a step would calm the excitement of the Roman Catholic population, and, promising, if it were taken, that he would leave the West Coast altogether with the least possible delay, March 29, midnight. Father Iressaut has finally decided that he will not send the telegram to Bishop Yiaifd, which Larkins requests, A petition, however, ie beitlg got op ill Stafford Town, to be forwarded to Bishop Viard, praying him to recall the sentence erf suspension against Larkins, The town has been perfectly quiet thrcraghoufc the day, and no illegal act or breach of the peace has been committed, except that a stone was thrown through the window of Mr. Button's house. The Editor of the Wellington Independent adds in a foot-note, " We understand that Bishop Viard has no intention of recalling the" sentence deposing; Father Larkins." Mr. John Manning, the present- Editor of the 1 tfeio Zealand Celt newspaper, published in HokU tika, is well known (saya the Oticns Advertiser') in Wangaratta and Ttirrowingee, We observe, per" telegram in our last issue, that he is up to his "old gamo" of mischief-making, sympathising with the Manchester murderers, and taking a leading part in n. funeral procession on their behalf. When 8 reporter on the BoXlafa.t Times, same fifteen yest» ago, he wrote some inflammatory articles, whicb, we believe, helped on the Ballafat fiottf, iti J9c cember, 1854 He was intimately connected with the principnl ringleader, and was tried, with several others, for Prigh treason, but was acquitted, H$ appears to bar one of those men who 1 can only ftfe id the midst r/f turmoil, and who will embrace any cause for t.lxe mere sake of creating confusion. He was, until within eight months ago 1 , a teacher of the Roman Catholic school, Wangaratta, and on leaving: WangaraWa went to Tarrawingee, Here his peculiar genius for raising mischief had not sufficient scope, and we next benf of him as proprietor of the New Zealand Celt. The publicans and slcrekeierpeT^ of Wangaratta andjTarrawingee have good reason to remember his patriotism, wbiefc was chiefly confined to leaving considerable balances in tbeif ledgers. The Melbourne HetUlti of 24th March, says : — " The notorious Manning was some yeara ago a reporter on tb«f BallaYat lfimetft amd is be* lieved to have been the writer of an artieltf for which Mr, Seekarap, tbff proprietor, was 8611*611003 to ft long term of imprisonment. When the 1 stockoxfe was erected, Manning took an active port he etdtitfg the miners to resist the authorities and! bis abjeeft appeals for mercy, when he was dragged o**S cX l»i» hiding-place shortly after the* eaptow af ft** stockade, will ae«nr few S&&M9* fey Vncm *>»».