Untitled

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 214, 7 April 1868, Page 2

District Court.— We particularly wish to remind our readers and the public, that the sittings of the District Court for civil and criminal business will commence to-day at eleven o'clock in the forenoon, and we warn all parties who have been summonsed, either on the jury or otherwise to be in attendance. Disturbance at Addison's. —One of the members of the loyal procession named Smith, having laid information against O'Brien and Duffy. Summones were issued against them, the case will come on for hearing in the Resident Magistrates Court thismorning.

Result oe the Trial at Hokitika. —At the Resident Magistrate's Court, on Saturday last, before G. G. FitzGerald, Esq., William Joseph Larkin and John Manning were fully committed to take their trial at the next criminal sittings of the Supreme Court to be holden at Hokitika, on a charge of seditious libel. The same prisoners together with William Melody, James Clarke, John Barrett, Thomas Harron, and Dennis Hannan, charged with riot on Sunday, the Bth of March, were, on the evidence adduced, committed to take their trial. The Court on the occasion was densly crowded, and guarded by double files of special constables.

Treason Felony Bill.—The Grey River Argus of the 2nd says : —" More indicative of the popular feeling than all the meetings and addressess, and likely to he more effective, is the passing by both Houses of Legislature of New South "Wales, in one night, of a very severe treason-felony hill. Some time ago the Government was invited by the Secretary for the Colonies to assimilate the treasonlaw to that of the mother country. But the Government neglected to pay any attention to the matter, Now, however the need of a new law is clear. But the bill our Parliament has passed goes beyond the English law. Mr Martin has added three stringent clauses—clauses that will effectually put a stopper on Fenian demonstrations. A search warrant may be issued by a magistrate on reasonable information, to search any sus-

pected person's rooms, or papers. To prevent abuse the warrant must be countersigned by three Ministers. It is also made penal to indulge in any disloyal manifestation. Even factiously refusing to drink the Queen's health at a public entertainment is included in the list of offences. So stringent a law could not have been passed merely as a preventative measure, because, few could have been made to believe in its necessity. But now the case is different. Mr Martin says that the Government knows of Penianism in the colony, but has no legal power to deal with it 1 In that case Parliament gives him all he asks, only hoping that he will use it vigorously and judiciously.