INCENDIARISM.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 395, 17 April 1871, Page 2

INCENDIARISM.

CORONER'S INQUESTS AT WAIUKU. On Friday and Saturday last two enquiries were held at Waiukn, before C. Melsopp, Esq., Coroner and Resident Magistrate, and a jury, of which Mr. A. Campbell was foreman, respecting the burning of the house and store of Shellito and Griffiths, and also respecting the burning of a house belonging to Mr. Thomas Reid, at the Maioro settlement, twelve miles beyond Waiuku, towards the Waikato Heads. The enquiries were both held at the Waiuku Hotel. Mr. Inspector Broham attended to conduct the enquiry, and Mr. Wynn watched the case for Mr. Shellito. The former enquiry, after the evidence of sis witnesses had been beard, resulted in an open verdict, that there was no evidence to show the cause of the burning. On Saturday the enquiry into the burning of Mr. Reid's house showed a very loose style of morals existing in the Maioro district. It appears that seven settlers and their families, known as " Cape Pigeons" constitute the settlement, Mr. Eeid being the only stranger in the land. It came out in evidence that he had, in order to conciliate his wild neighbours, given them various advantages in cutting limber, the use of cattle, &c, and at length withdrawn these privileges. The seven " pigeons " were unwilling witnesses at the enquiry, and their memories, though singularly fugacious, retained with great distinctness of outline, one unvarying tale. In examination, however, it were wrung from them, that they had threatened Mr. Reid, in covert but significant terms, that " his house wa3 up there," and that he must make himself an agreeable neighbour, or he should suffer for it. Accordingly his house, which was unoccupied, in the centre of a ploughed field, and half a mile away from any other habitation, was burned to the ground. The jury were divided in sentiment, a large proportion desiring to fls the blame on the neighbouring settlers, but eventually returned an open verdict, to the effjefc that the cause of the fire did not appear. Mr. Melsopp addressed the settlers in exceedingly strong language, characterising their conduct as scandalous, and said that it was such as would deter all respectable people from settling in their neighbourhood. The " pigsons" and their wives, who had been even more vigorous in their threats than their male partnera, seemed perfectly impregnable to shame, and appeared to consider that they hud done a very flno tiling. Apparently, Maioro is a nest of very unclean birds.