LATEST FROM AUSTRALIA.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 112, 11 April 1868, Page 3

LATEST FROM AUSTRALIA.

O’FARRELL TO BE HANGED ! PRINCE ALFRED GONE HOME ! ! Telegrams from Wellington dated Monday last, announce that the Rakaia had arrived from. Sydney with later news. It is positively decided upon that H.E, Highness Prince Alfred shall go home to England direct, and H.M.S.S. Galatea was to sail on Saturday last, April 4th.

O’Farrell’s trial commenced on March 30bh, and lasted two days. For the defence a plea of insanity was set up, but was not well sustained by the evidence. His Honor the Judge, in summing up, showed the fallacy of the plea of insanity. The Jury returned a verdict of Guilty, and the prisoner was sentenced to death. During the passing of the sentence, O’Farrell evinced not the slightest emotion. The Prince endeavoured to spare O’Farrell’s life by interceding with the authorities for him, but the Government, thinking an example necessary, will probably hang him. The reason for H. R. Highness not visiting New Zealand is that his medical advisers recommend the voyage home. The Prince expressed great anxiety to visit New Zealand,

H.M.S.S. Falcon has arrived at Wellington, en route for Hokitika, with 100 rank;and file of the 18th Royal Irish Regiment. The intelligence received by the General Government from Hokitika being of a peaceful and re-assuring nature, the troop#

will remain in Wellington. The Falcon proceeds to the West Coast and the Buller River, as a precautionary measure.

The following telegrams are from Sydney, via Melbourne, to 20th March :

Heelings continue to be held in all parts of the Colony, and resolutions passed expressive of abhorrence at the intended assassination.

O’Farrell repeats that he is a Fenian, and that he was acting as a member of a Fenian organisation ; but he is extremely cautious in his statements, and gives no clue whatever to his supposed accomplices. His Excellency the Karl ofßelmore has received a threatening letter through the post. It purports to come from a member of the Fenian Brotherhood, and warns him that the ‘“organisation’’ intends to take-the lives of his Excellency and his Ministers. The immediate cause of the letter is supposed to be the passing of the Treason Felony Act, to which the Governor gave his assent yesterday. 3 p.m.—O’Farrell is still silent about his accomplices, and the police are at present without any clue to them. Several suspensions have taken place among the officers of the police force, and in the department of the Customs, on account of suspected sympathy with the Fenian movement. There is a large meeting being held at the Exchange, to consider the question of erecting a permanent memorial of the treasonable attempt on the Prince’s life, and recording the abhorrence of the colonists at such an atrocity. O’Farrell has made no special confession since his committal, beyond what has appeared in the telegrams day by day. 650 p.m.—The meeting at the Exchange was of a most influential character. His Worship the Mayor was in the chair. The principal speakers were Sir W. Manning,- Mr. T. S. Mort (Mort and Co.) the Revs. M'lntyre, Smith, and Graham, and Drs. Badham, and Graham. It was resolved unanimously by the meeting to erect an Alfred Hospital, in memory of the dastardly attack made upon the Prince’s life.

7 35 p.m.—O’Farrell is still very reticent respecting his accomplices, and repeats his former assertion that the responsibility of assassinating the Prince was cast upon him by lot, and says that in return for the Manchester executions, the Fenians will have life for life. Mar. 21.

O’Farrell continues reticent respecting his accomplices. He is playful in his manner, frequently indulging in laughter. The surgeon of the gaol, Dr. Aaron remarked to him that private executions were the custom in New South Wales, and that there would be no admiring crowd to seo him hung. To this he replied, “Well, doctor, when you are hanged, I hope there will be an admiring crowd.” He speaks freely on Fenianism generally, and treats It as the principle of secresy in opposition to standing armies, permanent Governments, and publicity. He has stated that the Fenian government determined on the Duke’s death asa reprisal for the murder of the “Manchester patriots,” and that the same policy would be pursued in the case of every Fenian put to death. On being asked whether it would be resorted to in this colony, he replied, “ Excuse me, time will tell,” He has several times repeated his original statement, that he was one of the ten to whom the assassination of the Duke was delegated, and that he was bound to attempt it. He remarked a day or two ago, that he delayed the business longer than he ought to have done, according to his instructions, and that if he had shirked the task, he would himself have been shot by others, who were bound by their compact to do so. The Government have elicited through the police a large amount of information, the knowledge of which is kept from the public for ulterior purposes. The Duke is much gratified by the demi nstralionß. Indignation meetings continue to be held. The sum ot .£2500 has been already subscribed towards erecting the Prince Alfred Hospital. This sum includes £I2OO subscribed by the Jews. A man has been arrested by the police, who has been heard to declare “ that he would finish the Prince.’’ MORE ARRESTS OF FENIANS. The following is extracted from the telegraphic news of the Sydney Herald of 26th March:— Goclbourn. A man named Bartholomew Toomey, has been committed for trial under the Treason Felony Act, for saying:—“lt served the Prince right, ho had no business in this country.” Forbes. A man, named Murphy, suspected of Fenianism, was arrested yesterday morning at the Balk Hill station, near Grenfell, by Inspector Eoberts, and handed over to the police at Grenfell. Yass. A man, named James Johnson, was committed for trial to-day, under the Treason Felony Act, having said, “I am a Fenian.” Johnson is an Eipglbhman, and was drunk at the time.