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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 8, Issue 394, 16 July 1866, Page 2

By the arrival of the Lord Ashley yesterday morning, we have our usual files of Auckland papers to the 12th inst. There had been another fire at Newton, by which seven houses were destroyed. The fire originated in an empty house. Speaking of it, the Herald remarks that it is “ another added to the long list of mysterious occurrences which of late it has been our painful duty to record. ‘ Another fire in an empty house!’ Such are the only terms, the only explanation, and the only clue that can at present be offered to the public.” By way of Auckland we have some important news from Southern Provinces, respecting the Maungatapu murders. The accounts received are very voluminous, and it would be utterly impossible to reprint in this morning’s paper even so much as would give our readers a faint idea of the news to hand. We will therefore content ourselves at present with saying that one of the murderers (Sullivan) has turned Queen’s evidence, and owing to his revelations, the bodies of the murdered men have been discovered and buried. This crime is one of the. most inhuman of modern times. We will endeavor to publish full particulars on Thursday, We learn that all the murderers are convicts from the other colonies. H.M.S.S. Esk sailed from Auckland for Wellington via the Thames on the 11th iust. Her object in touching at the Thames was to embark the great chief William Thompson who is going to Wellington, but for what purpose does not appear.

A diabolical attempt at fire-raising was discovered at Nelson on the night of the 25th nit. A man named Henry Jones has been accused of being concerned in the robbery of <£2,300 worth of gold-dust from the Bank of New Zealand at Okarita. Ho had been examined at the Police Court at Greymouth, and remanded for a week.

The N. Z. Herald contains the account of the arrival of the cutter Sea Belle from Opotiki, and the drowning of the captain (Lewis) who was v/ell-kaown and greatly respected at this port. On Thursday we will endeavor to give the full account. From the same paper we learn that an accident occurred to the schooner Queen, Capt. M'Lood (late Loverock) at Wangapoa, on the Gth iust. In crossing the bar, the wind died away, and the vessel helplessly drifted on to the outer spit. After taking out all the cargo, ballast, &c., she was got off on the evening of Sunday, the Bth. -.With the exception of being a tittle strained, and losing a quantity of copper, the vessel had sustained no damage. The s.s. Star of the South, we learn from the Auckland papers, sailed for this port on the evening of Monday, the 9th inst. If that is the case, she is certainly making a much longer trip than usual. (We perceive, just as we are going to press, that she is at the point of the entrance to the Iron Pot.)

Gazette. —A Provincial Government Gazette, issued on Friday, 13th July, contains (1) notices of the sittings of the Supreme Court at Napier; (2) a proclamation, -which appears elsewhere, of certain lands to be sold by public auction on Wednesday, 22nd August; (3) a return of the arrivals and departures of vessels at the port of Napier for the quarter ended 31st March, 1886; (4) a return of emigration and immigration at the Port of Napier for the quarter ending 31st March, 1866; (5) a return of imports of New Zealand Produce at the Port of Napier for the quarter ending 31st March, 1866; (6) a return of exports of Now Zealand Produce at the Port of Napier for the quarter ending 31st March, 1866 • (7) a notification extracted from the New Zealand Gazette to the effect that Andrew Thompson, Esq., has been appointed Registrar of Marriages, and of Births, Denths, and Marriages, for the District of Mohata, in the Province of Hawke’s Bay ; (8) a notification by his Honor the Superintendent of the receipt and acceptance of the resignation by John Buchanan. Esq., of his seat in tlTe Provincial Council of Hawke’s Bay, as member for the Town of Napier; (9) a notification by his Honor the Deputy Superintendent to the effect that the Papakara Block is thereby designated “ Meanee South,” and that the Hikutoto Block is designated “West Clive;” and (10) a return of cattle slaughtered in the Napier District from Ist to 30th June, 1866, inclusive.

Shall Vessels oe Light Draught Wanted tor Government Service. —The New Zealand Advertiser informs ns that D. A. C. G. Graham has come down from Wanganui for the- purpose of proceeding to the South to charter small vessels of light draft of water for the purpose of carrying supplies to the troops at the Patea and the front generally, while the Gundagai is undergoing repairs, It is found impossible to send provisions overland, as the roads are quite impassable, and there arc fully a thousand Imperial and Colonial troops to be supplied in, that part of the country.