LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 54, 10 July 1862, Page 3

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

A Provincial Gazette, issued on Monday last contains the following appointments; —Corporal Scully to be Sergeant Major of Police; Private Evans to be Corporal; and Mr. Martin Hamlin to be Native Interpreter. Also a notice, intimating that the Governor has been pleased to appoint Thomas Hitchings, Esq., Coroner for the Napier District ; Brook Taylor, Esq., Coroner for the Gaol and Hospital; and Charles R. English, Esq., Coroner for the District of Waipukurau. Also a proclamation declaring that "'an act to make further provisions x-elative to Fencing within the Districts of the Province,” shall come into operation within the ■ following boundaries:—North by Boundary of Capt. Henton’s Run; North-East by Suburban line of the Western side of Harbor, and Warerangi Native reserve ; East by Wareraugi Reserve and Puketapu Road; South by Meanee River; and West by Mangaone River; another proclamation convenes a sale of ss. land on the 12th of August next;

and three warrants defining districts under “ The Coroner’s’ Act, 1858.” Land Sale. —At the sale of five shilling land on Tuesday last, the whole of the lots were sold at the upset price, with the exception of the following;—On Capt. Henton’s run, 300 acres sold at 6s. 6d.; 300 at 10s.; 300 at 18s. Id.; 300 at 125.; 300 at 13s. 2d.; and 300 at 10s. 6d. Total amount of Sale, .£5166 15s. Competition on the above lots leaving .£1268 15s. to the Treasury. Another Flee.— After a lapse of three months it is again our painful duty to chronicle the occurrence of another fire in Napier. On Friday night last, about 10 o’clock, the cry of “ Fire ! Fire !” startled many of the townspeople, and, from the volume of smoke, it was seen to he in the neighborhood of Car-lyrc-street. It was found that a cottage, owned and occupied by Mrs. Parker, and near the residence of J. A. Smith, Esq., was in flames, and that nothing could be done by those on the spot to save anything in the building. Attention was therefore turned to the house of Mr. Smith, by mounting the roof with blankets, &c., and pulling down tnc palings to prevent the fire travelling any further, for the wind, although not very strong, carried the embers and sparks in that direction, and they showered somewhat dangerously upon the premises. The flames however, wore not long in completing their work, and the danger to Mr. Smith’s house was thereby removed. We have heard that ’'he building was insured to the amount of A'3oo. After this second warning it is greatly to be desired that some organised plan of opei: ; ions should he brought to bear, in the event of {autre and more serious conflagra-ti-uis in our combustible town. AX IXQUEST Was held yesterday at the Masonic Hotel, before T. Hitchmgs, Esq,, to enquire into the origin of the fire, hut the evidence failed to show how it occurred, as will be seen below. The following witnesses were called— Mary Anne Parker, Widow.—l was the owner of the burnt property. The house had not been occupied for three days by any part of my family. The two youngest children were with Mrs. Willis. The day before I was in the house, and left it in the same state as usual, locked the doors and took the keys. There was a window at the side of the house which fastened inside, but owing to a pane of glass being broken it could he opened and access gained. I have frequently seen boys get in at the window. I have found them there after dark. I have found Ross, Trainer, and Robinson there, they have always been lying down. I always turned them out. I was so much away I could not help it. The night of the fire I being at Mrs. Sealy’s knew nothing about it. There were matches kept in the house. I was insured for £3OO. Sarah Willis, wife of Sergeant Willis, deposed : —Mrs. Parker’s children had been at my house, from Tuesday. They had not been out of ray place. , Charles Mogridge:—l live at a house close to the fire. Between 9 and 10 o’clock, p.m. on Friday, the 4th inst. I saw smoke issuing from the direction of Mrs. Parker’s, I thought nothing particular about it and went away. John Alexander Smith, Esq., deposed : At about half-past eight I smelt something like burnt cloth, I went round the house two or three times and saw nothing. At halfpast nine Air. Ton* told me of Mrs. Parker’s house. I think the fire originated in the kitchen. Robert Hatch, 16 years old: —I live at Mr. Danver’s store. I have been in the habit of going to Mrs. Parker’s. James Me. Connacher, 14 years, deposed to the same. Patrick Hogan, 17, deposed to the same : —I have been in tbe habit of going to Mrs. Parker’s, but we never smoked or lighted a fire. Thomas Morrison: —On Friday last at quarter past ten I saw a great smoke coming from the fire. I saw two boys running to the back of Mr. Smith’s house. They appeared undressed, with only their shirts on. They seemed running fast and alarmed. I was within three or four yards of them. I cannot identify them. One had a red Crimean shirt, the other a white one. Corporal Evans deposed that the side window wasopen when he arrived at the fire. He is of opinion that the fire originated in the kitchen. The jury returned the following verdict—“rThat there is no evidence to show how the fire originated.”