THE FENIAN DEMONSTRATION AT HOKITIKA.

Grey River Argus, Volume V, Issue 336, 10 March 1868, Page 3

THE FENIAN DEMONSTRATION AT HOKITIKA.

(Condensed from the West Coast Times. , That section, of our Irish fellow-colonista whose, sympathies are, with, tho Feiiiah movement in the 014 country, kept Sunday as a day of solemn observance in honor of the memory of Allen, Larkin, and O'Brien, who were executed at Manchester for the murder of Police-Sergeant Brett. Happily the day's proceedings— bo far as absolute collision was concerned r— were unattended by any breach of the peace, being from first to last conducted (with one exceptional circumstance) in an orderly manner. To do the promoters justice, we mus,t say thai they extended to the general public a very liberal invitation to join in the movement. The town was early astir, and as the hour drew nigh people from, all quarters might be, seen wending their way In the direction of North Revell street, which soon became intensely crowded by eager spectators. Shortly after eleven o'clock the procession started, preceded by a, hearse, drawn by four horses, and by a brass band playing the SpanishrXhaunt. The number of those who formed the procession is variously estimated at from 170 to 200— our reporter counted 190 men and three or four boys. There were several banners bearing appropriate devices. At about three o'clock in the afternoon the procession swelled to about 720 me,n, 50 women, and between 20 and 30 children returned to town, headed by the band, and four men carrying a trestle, on which was laid the Celtic cross, and. behind which walked the Rev. Mr Lavkina, the Roman Catholic curate of Waimea, and marched up Revell ptreet, turned into Tancred strce 1 -, and so on to Gibson's Quay, and along Wharf street, and into Revell street again, and then down Revell street towards the Cemetery, without one& haltingfor refreshment, albeit, the men looked weary and jaded after the long march of well nigh fourteen miles, on one of the warmest days of the season, and along a soft and dusty road. Shortly before four o'clock the vanguard of the procession —consisting of the Rev. Mr M'Donough t Mr Clarke, M.C.C., and Mr Melody-^arrived. at the Cemetery on horseback. The two latter rode up to the gate, asked a man who waa outside if he were the person in charge of it, and, having received an answer in the negative,disinounted. They then produced the tools with which they had furnished thptoselyes and made a preliminary inspection prior to commencing operations. A nerson inside entreated of them not; to break anything, and showed them how, by knocking a^ide a couple of nails above the top hinges, they could, lift off the gate. This they did, and laid it agaiust the fence inpide. By this time the crowd attending the procession bqgan to arrive, and made for that part of the Cemetery assigned to the Roman Catholic portion oi* the community. Presently the procession began to arrive in the following order : — The trestle bearing the memorial cross, borne by four ; two choristers, in vestments ; Jtev, Mr Larkins, in full canonicals.

chaunting the burial service in Latin ; ladies, and the other processionists. These were accompanied by banners of various designs and inscriptions, of which the following were the most noticeable :-*- A large one of green silk, with this inscription emblazoned in gilt— i < ' _J_ * : ALLEN*. LARKIN. O'BRIEN". GOD SAVE IRELAND ! 'TIS TREASON TO LOVE HEX, AND DEATH TO DEFEND. A smaller one, draped, representing on one side St Patrick, and on the reverse a large gilt cross. Another with a cross and a coffin ; with various others. Arriving at the spot selected for the erection of the memorial cross, the banners were ranged around, aud the bystanders having formed a ring, The Rev, Mr Larkin, R.0.C., then addressed those present in nearly the following terms : — Beloved Countrymen arid Friends— We are here, and where is the harm that we have done 1 (Applause.) Yet we have been maligned and blackballed by the Mayor of Hokitika. (Hisses.) We have been called ruffians and rebels by the Mayor of Hokitika alone, (Hisses.) But we will this day make him bow to the majesty of public opinion. (Cheers.) This is Sunday, when we are called upon to worship the Author of light ; but the holier the day, the better the deed. And what are we here for ? We have como to erect a Celtip cross to the memory of our martyred fellow - countrymen. William Allen, Michael O'Brien,, and Michael Larkin, who were executed at Manchester, and were laughed to scorn as the drop fell, (Groans and hisses.) We love and respect their memory, we respect, too, the sacrifice they have made for their country. We have come here to-day to erect a tribute to their memory. We have been maligned, we have been blackballed, but we have done no harm. At home, the malice of one op two who had tried to preventthe demonstration in honor of their martyred fellow countrymen, would have been successful owing to recent legislation. But here they have so prostituted the law that the law for us has no force. It is a 'Sunday, and we are bound to thank and worship the Giver of all good. On this day we are simply doing a duty we owe to our martyred fellow-countrymen — William Allen, Michael O'Brien, and Michael Larkin, may their souls rest in* peace, may our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ have mercy upon them, and if in their life-time there were any shortcomings on their part, may He in His infinite mercy pardon and forgive them, and may choirs of angels carry their spirits to the presence of the Eternal. They died, as they lived, in the bosom of the Catholic Church, and their last words were Jesus and Mary— those names by which they who die in the Catholic Church are saved. Let us hopp that they will pray for us and for poor downtrodden Ireland — that they wilj pray for us and them, that they may bear the mis-government imposed on them, and all the wickednes3 that results from that mis-government. There is a gentleman that has been called upon to pronounce tho funeral oration, but as I do npt see him here, I have tried to express, in these few words, my feelings.. I have one request to make— l know that there are many here present who do not think with us, but I have one request to ask, arid that is that all will kneel down and offer up a pater. The members of the procession then knelt down all round, when the Rev. Mr Larkins repeated "In the name," #c, "Onr Father," "Gloria Patri," and " Benedictus.." Prayers were then offered. The company then dispersed, some few staying behind to assist in erecting the memorial, which bore the following inscription : — I.H.S. Erected By the inhabitants of Waimea and Stafford Town in loving memory Of the Irish Patriots, William Allen, MigHAijL. O'Bkjex, and Michael Lakkin, Who were executed at Manchester and buried in the yard of the New Bailey Prison, " •'■ Sftlford, ' Nov. 2, 1867. } reqciescat in pace, God Save Ireland, When the work of erecting this was finished all withdrew, the gate was replaced on its hinges, and the sacred ground resumed its still and solemn air.