’TIS 60 YEARS SINCE

Hokitika Guardian, 5 March 1932, Page 2

’TIS 60 YEARS SINCE

DUKE OF EDINBURGH SHOT. *" . j., j-V> •’ ' f STATISTICS OF POPULATION.

(Jottings by “W”—No. 3.) ; Mr Warden Schaw, in his report for-February, . 1868, upon mining in the Kanieri District, stated that 60 men were working in the right hand branch of the Kanieri River, making fair wages. The Woodstock populartion was fast, decreasing, on account of the Queensland Rush. Two crushing machines were working on the Hau Hau lead.. Tire population of tne Kanieri district was estimated at 2550, of which 550 were engaged m pursuits other than mining. Warden price of Okarito reported that three ' large races were being built, to bring water to the Five Mile Beach. The population was 485, distributed as follows: Okarito town <5, North Beach 46, Three Mile Beach 45, Five Mile Beach 200, W.aiho Beach 10, Sandfly Beach 8, Gillespie’s Beach 20, Huuls Beach 10, Pruce Bay and Jackson’s Bay 50, Maoris at Bruce Bay 15. On March 13th. the Municipal Council passed a resolution, that the ringleaders of the parties who forced an entrance into the cemetery on the previous Sunday, be criminally sroeecuted. . , The “West Coast Times,” of March 18th. records the completion of the Dobson Memorial, the first fthd only stone monument in Westland. It was erected to the memory of George Dobson, Road Engineer, murdered on the Grey and Arnold Road on May 28th., 1866; Henry Whitcomb®,; Hood Surveyor, drowned in the Teremakau River on May 6th., : 1866; Charles Townsend, Government Agent, drowned at Greymouth, October 9th., 1863; and Charlton Hewitt, explorer, drowned in Lake Brunner, September, 1863. This monument was erected at the intersection ■of Weld and Sewell Streets, where the Clock Tower now stands, but was afterwards moved to the Cemetery, because it was considered to be a hindrance to traffic. This was before the days of motor c-ars. DUKE OF EDINBURGH ASSAULTED. On March 22nd. the “West. Coast Times” issued an extra, stating that the Duke of Edinburgh had been assassinated in Sydney. .This news was brought to Nelson by a steamer from Melbourne, called the John Penn. The next day the S.S. Rangitoto arrived at the Bluff with more authentic news, to the effect that the Duke was shot at, and wounded in the back, by a Fenian at the Sailors’ Home picnic. The ball had been extracted, and the Duke was . getting, on well. A demonstration was speedily set on foot by iUr Osborne, of the Empire Hotel, and Mr Hungerford, timber merchant/' and preparations were made for a bonfire in the Municipal Reserve, Loads» of wood were carted to the place, and barrels of tar . were contributed by shipping firms. The Town Council adjourned, and, the Fire Brigtkle, and the njewly formed corps of volunteers paraded the streets. ■ .The scene in the old Camp Reserve was truly imposing, and grand. The huge pile of blazing logs, surmounted with.-fiar barrels spouting fire, lit up the expanse of the streets. Two thousand' people sang “God Save tne Queen,” and it was decided that the following day should be observed as a general holiday in commemoration l

of Prince Alfred’s escape from death. At the City Theatre, with an audience ~of ,800, long and loud were the plaudits, with which each verse of the National Anthem was received, showing conclusively the real feeling of the local people. Amongst tne advertisements were three notices: One notifying that the 25th. of March would be observed as a Public Holiday to Celebrate the

Preservation of Prince Alfred’s life from the attack of a Cowardly and Dastardly Assassin. Another, calling •a Public Meeting at 11 a.m. to express sympathy with the Providential Escape of the Duke of Edinburgh, and the third as follows:—‘All who call themselves natives of' the British Isles, are respectfully requested, on Wednesday next ‘ (the day set aside to rejoice at the happy failure to assassinate the Duke of Edinburgh), to wear three ribbons, i.e., Red, White and Blue. God Save the Queen, and those most dear to Her, and the British people.” A meeting was held to form a No. 2 Company of the Westland Rifle Volunteers and 87 were enrolled. The name of the Prince of Wales Opera House was changed to the Duke of Edinburgh Theatre. The Jewish Synagogue and the Roman Catholic Church advertised special thanksgiving services. Charles Bond, of the Bull and Mouth, advertised a free lunch from 11 to 3.

There was a fairly fine day for the holiday. All the principal hotels and business places exhibited colours of every variety and hue, living any local or patriotic significance. One noticeable feature of the occasion was the demonstration character of the ladies’ dresses in the. streets. Blue and white in fcilk, muslin, and ribbon; in robe, scarf/ and bonnet, were invariably encountered and sjhjke with .great „sigificanee. hats were decorated Throughout the day guns ...were fired from the vessels in; .pprfe-These were as follows : Two 'barques. 6 schooners, 3 ketches, 1 cutter and 7 steamers. A public meeting was held at the Duke of Edinburgh Theatre, which was densely crowded. Patriotic

speeches were made, and three groans were given for the assassin, and three cheers for Mr Batlett, the theatre proprietor.

The procession started at three o’clock. Three hundred miners, headed by a Highland piper, and carrying flags and banners, marched in from Blue Spur, Hau Hau and Big Paddock. The procession was led by Cobb and Co.’s coach, with the Hokitika Brass Band. Next came the shipwrights and. seamen of. the port,, about 150 men. Then the Hokitika Drum and life band in full uniform, followed by the civil servants, citizens, and miners preceding the Friendly Societies, the Freemasons, unclothed, being in advance, followed by 110 Oddfellows in full regalia. Then came the Mayor and Councillors, the Press and the Hokitika Fire Brigade, in red tunics and white helmets, beaded by Captain Macfarlane, next came cue Hau Hau miners, and 72 horsemen’ and horsewomen. Six carriages and express wagons, closed the procession which was made up of 3000 men and 100 women and children. GroanjS .were given, when the procession passed the “Celt” office. A crowd of over 2000 lined the footpaths, arriving at the extreme end of llevell Street, the procession turned to the right about, the leading files cheering the others as they passed, the shpnt being taken up all along the line, and at last culminated in a ringing cheer for the Queen and Duke. They then returned to the Town Hall ilesrvo, where they formed a square. There were more iuid cheering, and as the paper says, “the rain began to fall, and the crowd dispersed.” A bul’lodt was roasted whole in the reserve and Messrs Pizzey provided barrels of beer, to which there was unrestricted access, at the principal street intersections. Tjie end of a perfect day! ! ! In the evening, the Government House, the theatres, the banks and several of the hotels were brilliantly .illuminated. The Bank of New Zealand bad some chaste and beautifully executed transparencies. The Municipal arch opposite the Council Chambers was illuminated. Several shop windows were beautifully lit up with lamps, and the New Zealand, and British Hotels, and the Literary Society’s rooms with candles.

Rumours of Fenian Riot. On March 27th, 1868, various runiorswere afloat as to an intended Feiiian outbreak, and, pursuant to Proclamation, J. A. Bonar, Chairman of . the County Council, and G. G. Fitzgerald, Resident Magistrate, were occupied ail the afternoon in swearing in special constables. They were allotted beats as follows: No. 1 Company, 218 men, Captain Binney, Revell Street north of Weld Street; No. 2. 142 men, Captain Carey, Revelh Street, soutli of Weld Street, and Wharf Street: No 3. 141 men, Captain Sprott, Gibson Quay; No. 4, Captain Street, Tattered Street and Hamilton

Street; No. 5, 64 men, Captain Bartlett, Police Barracks. .The same day, the Rev. Father Larkin, Mr John Manning (editor of the “Celt”), Mr Melody and Mr Barrett were arrested, and the “Celt” office was taken possession of by the police. One hundred and fifty men came from the Hau Hau to be sworn in a.s special constables. A meeting was held to form a. corps of cavalry, to be called the Westland Light Horse, 45 members being enrolled. The paper printed an account,of the; attempted assassination of the Dukd taken from the .Sydney papers of March 13th. ■ The Duke was at the Sailors’ Home pichic, at Clontarf, talking to Sir William Manning, when O’Farrol crept, up to within six feet, and shot the Duke in the back. The Duke was taken to Sydney in tin* steamer “Morpeth” But far the intervention of the police. O’Farrel would have been lynched by the crowd. He was put on. board the steamer “Paterson,” where the sailors wanted to string him up to the yardai;m. but they were prevented by Lord Newiv a«d Sir Alfred Stephen. O’Farrel was unconscious, bis clothes having been torn off. He was afterwards tried and found guilty, and bung in Darlinglnirst gaol. The Sydney police offered £IO9O reward for information re O’Farrel’s accomplices. On' April 4th., a contingent of the Armed Constabulary arrived, consisting of 67 men and three officers under the charge of Colonel McDonnell. T.iarUiii, Mo lining;, Clarke, Melody, Barrett, HjaiTon and Hannan were brought Wore the Court charged with riot, and remanded to tile Criminal Court. Bail was refused. On Master Monday another procession' was held, and miners turned up from all parts of the district. The celebration was spoiled by the rain. In the evening a line banquet was given at the Duke of Edinburgh Theatre, where, there were several sittings of 350 each. The. paper states that the children in the boxes were entertained with fruit and sundries, and, being "wound up. their enthusiasm rose to the occasion, much to the delight of those in lh’ body of ’the house, and there ran not be a doubt but that they returned ’home aerated with loyalty and g'liger bepr. The next day His Worship attended at the Police Camp, and dispiped of 33 cases of inebriates, whose exuberant loyalty. had degenerated into license, and was therefore punishable by a small fine,' which was duly inflicted in each instance. Off April 17, the price of the West Coast Times was reduced from 6cl to 3d a copy. On April '2oth,' 1868 a permanent Racing Club was formed, to be called the Westland Jockey Club, subscription five guineas. Some idea of the far off times may be gleaned by students of history, when it i s noted that the morning paper of April; 22nd, l'iß6B, advises in "the home news, that Lord Derby had re-

signed, and Disraeli had -.-been appointed Premier; also that President Johnson of U.S..A. had been -impeached, and would not resign, and that Jefferson Davis’ trial had been postponed. May 9th, 1868. TM escort from floss arrived with 4000 ounces of gold. On.. May 19th the seven men, Larkin, • Manning, Clarke,' Barrett, -Melody, Hamm and 'Hannon were indicted before Mr Justice Richmond for holding . ~an unlawful assembly in Hokitika, and taking forcible possession of the Hokitika iCemei'erv. The indictment contained f;“lT counts. The following counsel «p peared :—For the 'Crown, the Attorney General (Mr Prendergast). Messrs Harvey arid Ballon; lor the defendants, Air Ireland, Q.C. (who had been , brought from .•Melbourne, and made a i ’liieinber of the New Zealand Bar the -prsviou s day), Air South, Air Rees, ana •All’ Guinness. One of the counts was founded on a statute of Richard 11. the defendants pleaded not gui'ltv. The witnesses’ account of the pro ceisiijii avas the same as given in nu |)' a.vious article. One witness state, tiidf many private individuals ill Hi. procession had revolvers under tli-'i yoa'ts. A member of the lire Brigade giving evidence, stated that they were ordered out on the day of tne procession, and thought that. they could have put out the procession with water. Air Ireland spoke for over two hours. Ho. mentioned the statute of Richard Mil,, and ventured to affirm that that . M’dtiareh never 'thought for one moment .‘that the provis oils of that statute would be. applied in this remote part of the British Dominions. The Judge statiwl Hint, nu tloftMifi? lit l lincl nu’t had equalled'the ability, or subtleness of •argument, displayed by Mr Ireland. , The Judge in directing the jury saic that the indictment had been drawl '■‘hip witu great sk.il, greater than. couli .(Five hern expected in so remote colony.

. The jury retired and brought in ; verdict of ‘’guilty.” .against all Hu piisoner,s, and recommended all but Manning and Larkin, to merry. Had of the five stated that tiny had acted in ignorance. The Judge fined them £2O each, or a month in Hokitika Gaol The other two prisoners were the;: charged with seditious l'bel, and pleaded “guilty. ’’ They were, each fined £2O. Air;lreland left for Melbourne bv the Albarntra, and was famvelled by c large crowd, an exceedingly handsomi testimonial,, being presented to him on the previous evening. The. armed constabulary left per the Waipara for Patea. On June 11th the Rev. Larkin ant Air Manning were released from gaol. So ended these trials, which attracted so large tin amount of public interest throughout the colonies,, The people of Hokitika then settled down to their usual avocations, On April 10th the escort arrived from Ross with 6000 ounces of gold. A raffle was held for a large bullock. SC members at £1 each; the winner sold the bullock to Air Price, butcher, fff? £46. The carcase weighed 15761br>. -The first race meeting under the

Club management was held on the .Queen’s Birthday. At the sale of privileges, six booths were sold. The betting on the hurdle race was published ; 4 to 1 against Harkaway. A century to a pony taken on Blink Bonny. Don Pedro won at 4 to 1. A notice appeared that carriages would leave the Kanieri Tramway Termini;;; every ten minutes from 11 to, 2 Hokitika was well catered for in the* way of amusements. On the Queen's Birthday the “Colleen Bawn" was played at the Duke of Edinburgh Theatre ; Madame Caradini was singing at the Assembly rooms, and a variety concert with a Scotch entertainer' named Black was held at the Princess Theatre. ‘ The Borough Council was congratulated for starting ’street lights, four lamps •being! put. in 'front of Hie Custom:' House. It is evident that, prior to this, the only street illumination, was tliC'lamp in' front of each hotel ( enforced by law). With a hundred hotels, Hokitika must have emulated the “Great White Way.’’ " • ■Statistics gave .the population of Westland Boroughs as follows: Hokitika, 4,866, GreyinoiitJi 1,607. The passage of .. years has brought many changes. Our tiex(t ■article will deal with mining, and mining history.