LATEST HOKITIKA NEWS.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 118, 23 May 1868, Page 5

LATEST HOKITIKA NEWS.

May 13, 4-15 p.m. The Criminal sessions opened to-day. Judge Richmonds charge was very elaborate on the law of riot and seditious libel. The address is described as masterly. He explained that if the processionists assembled to honor Allen, Larkin and Gould, it was an illegal act, and amounted to a misdemeanor. Referring to seditious libels, his Honor said that, writers were allowed the amplest liberty to advocate' changes, however radical, even to the dismemberment of the Empire, but they must not incite to the commission of violence, or to the overthrow of existing institutions by force; The charge is : not at all relished by the friends of- the prisoners. True bills were found against Larkins and the other prisoners. With the exception of the political trials, which will, begin on Friday, and a charge of murder against Douglas, a miner, the calender is very light. The Judge complimented the County on the decrease of ordinary crime. ‘ ‘ . The official poll at Okarita, for a member for Westland South, gives ' Mr. Banff a majority on the" whole poll of ,23. The s.s. Egmont ‘has arrived from Sydneyplmt^"'the""'river steamer missed the channel ahid had to put to sea, in consequence of fog. No news is, therefore, to be had. The steamer Nelson, which was on shore, was'luHeSullyTnSched'withoutinjury. May 15, 4‘40 p.m. Mrd -Ireland has been admitted’ to the Bar of-New- Zealand. * —■ r- ■ -

The Crown Prosecutor, O’Laughlin, has been severely censured-from the Bench for carelessness in { framing the indicthients._ f h i Great'‘Sensations was. caused in conse.qnence of the prisoner Douglass, ■ charged with the murder of his mate, being .corir victed of manslaughter only, after a circumstantial: ponfessioh of murder. The Crown Prosecutor suggested;the option to the jury;