Interprovincial Items.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 15, Issue 770, 17 March 1870, Page 2

Interprovincial Items.

LATEST FROM TAURANGA. The Tauranga correspondent of the Evening News writes as follows under date sth March : A day or two ago an accident occurred at Maketu which resulted in the death of a friendly native belonging to Kemp's " mob " (the Ngatipuhi tribe) It appears from what I have been able to glean that the deceased was standing in a boat, and a half-caste boy on board a cutfer saw him. The lad took up a gun, pointed it at the Maori, and jestingly said "he would snap a cap at that fellow." He drew the trigger, but, unfortunately, the gun was loaded, and went off. The ball entered the right shoulder of the Maori, and traversed the back in an oblique direction, coming out at the left hip. The wound was mortal, and the unfortunate native expired in about half-aa-hour. A Court of magisterial enquiry will be held before Mr Mair, R.M, when the facts of the case will be enquired into. On Tuesday last the Hauhaus set fire to a mill belonging to Mr Simpson, near Tauranga. The flames spread rapidly, and the building and its contents were quickly reduced to ashes. The load to Whakatane is at present unsafe to travel, owing to the number of stragglers from Te Kooti's main body who infest the country. Te Kooti himself is at present in the Uriwera country, about 100 miles from Tauranga. All kinds of rumors are prevalent as to an engagement being daily anticipated. But little alarm is evinced,, and the people here seem relapsing into their former apathetic state. The Rosario is still in baxbor, but H.M 3.5.. Challenger has gone to Wellington..

THE THICKER CASE.—GREAT PUBLIC MEETING IN WELLINGTON.,

The following report of one of the largest and must orderly meetings that has ever been held in Wellington is from the Daily Advertiser, l.lth March: — On the motion of Mr B. J. Wakefield, the hon. J. Johnston took the chair. The Chairman briefly explained the object of the meeting [to hear and determine on -the case of Walter. Tricker, now in Wei? lipgton Graol], and said., as his. na©& hagr

pened to be at the head of the list of those who signed the notice, credit might be given him for the meeting having been called. But it was not so. Ihe credit was due to the Rev. Mr Stock. He then described the circumstances of the murder, and the evidence adduced at the trial, and read the report of the commissioners appointed to investigate the alibi set up by Tricker, in which they stated that the alibi was a good one. The wilful perjury of the half-caste Hamilton was briefly alluded to. He stated that as Englishmen we were proud of our Courts of Justice, and of our Judges, and second to none was the Judge who presided over the Court at Wellington. It was strange that at the trial no voice was raised to stay the verdict until there had been an investigation of the circumstances held on the ground j until the ground which Tricker had been alleged to have travelled over had been ridden over by some compe'ent man, as had since been done by Mr Donald Eraser for the Commissioners. He felt sure if this had been done, the Crown Prosecutor would have thrown up his brief, and the Judge would have recommended the jury to acquit the prisoner. Mr G-eorge Hunter moved the following resolution: — That this meeting considers that the reports of the two commissions which have enquired into the circumstances of Mr Rayner's murder, as well as the facts which have arisen since the trial, induce grave doubts as to the justice of the sentence under which Walter Tricker is now imprisoned. —He believed that Tricker was innocent, and had done so from the first. Although he had been found guilty by a Judge and jury, still instances are known where Judges and juries had committed errors. Dr. Grace felt much pleasure in seconding the resolution. The resolution was then put to the meeting and carried unanimously. The Rev. Mr Stock, who was received with the most deafening cheer 3, then explained the map of the country where the murder had been committed, saying that it was utterly impossible that Tricker could have been at the place at the time stated. He then moved— That tins meeting is further of opinion that the principal witness against Tricker at the trial has been shown to be unworthy of belief, and that the alibi set up on behalf of the prisoner has been affirmed ; and, under these circumstances, considers that Tricker's detention is an infringement on personal liberty, contrary to the spirit of the English Constitution.

—lie then gave hi 3 reasons for having taken so prominent a part in the case of the unfortunate man Tricker. He was now, and had been since the trial commerced, convinced of Tricker's innocence. The rev. gentleman then described in a very graphic manner the whole of the various steps he had taken in the matkr, and the amount of opposition that he had met throughout, which is already well-known to the public. He thought that if the Government would not move in the matter, the public must make them do so. He was tired of being humbugged. He then explained away that portion of the report of the commissioners which appeared to throw doubt on Tricker's innocence, and said that he did not believe the evidence which had been given by the three prisoners with regard to statements which were said to have been made by Tricker, and when it was borne in mind that they had given their evidence three years after Tricker had been alleged to have confessed to them, and after one of them had been flogged for a crime which he had committed, he thought that he had sufficient reason for not believing {their story. It was utterly impossible for Tricker to have spoken to them without the other prisouers having heard him, and this he had already been assured by a large number of them they had not done. It was utterly impossible that Tricker could have committed the murder on the Thursday night, as he could not possibly have left Campbell's without being heard either in going or returning. He felt the more sure of Tricker's innocence in consequence of the fact that he had proved, by the evidence of those on the ground, that all that Tricker had told him with regard to the case was true. He then referred to the evidence given by Mr Bead before the Commissioners with regard to Tricker having stated that Eayner bled at the mouth, entirely clearing up that circumstance. It was most probable that Tricker had said that Eayner might have bled at the mouth, and afterwards, fearing that he had done wrong in making such a statement, had, as Mr Head said, trembled at the consequences that might occur through it. Tricker was illegally confined ; he did not speak from his own opinion only, but from the opinions of three lawvers, whioh be had obtained, The

confinement of Tricker was against English law, for in all cases where there was a doubt it was given to the prisoner, but in this case the doubt had been used against the unhappy man. He would not rest until he had not only succeeded in securing Tricker's release, but in obtaining for him some acknowledgment for the injustice which had been done him, and he asked those preseut to assist him in so doing.

M<* T. M'Kenzie seconded the resolution, which was then put and carried unanimously. Mr J. H. Wallace moved the following resolution:— That the following gentlemen be appointed as the Wellington Tricker Defence Committee, for the purpose of taking such steps as they may deem fit to secure the liberation of Walter Tricker from his present imprisonment:—Hon. J. Johnston, Rev. A. Stock, Messrs. R. Pharazyn, G. Hunter, M. S. Grace, T. M'Keazie, R J. Duncan, T. J. Mountain, E. Gifford, J. Gilligan, and G. Crawford, with power ,to add to their number. Mr J. Plimmer seconded the resolution, which was carried. Mr James Smith proposed the next resolution : That the thanks of this meeting, and of the public of Wellington, are due to the Rev. Mr Stock for his unceasink and strenuous efforts.to establish Tricker's innocence, and to obtain his release. The Rev. Mr Moir seconded the resolution. The thanks of the public were due to Mr Stock for his unwearying and disinteres|ed efforts to secure the release of Tricker. Those who consider Tricker innocent should be thankful that the sentence had been arrested, and that a judicial murder had not been committed. He would refer to the evidence of the halfcaste. Hamilton had sworn at the inquest that he knew nothing of the murder, and and at the trial he had sworn quite differently. Which oath were they to believe. In his opinion the one oath entirely annulled the other. The detention of Tricker was not only a piece of injustice, but it was an act of tyranny, and they should not rest till he was set at liberty. The resolution was carried unanimously, and the Rev. Mr Stock thanked the meeting for their acknowledgement, and said that he accepted it as a proof of the incli nation of those present to assist him.

Mr E. J. Duncan moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman, and said that he hoped those present would do their dutj, not only as men, but as electors, and, when the time came, which was not far distant, refuse to return any man who would not pledge himself to obtain Tricker's release and see justice done him. The motion was seconded by Mr Wakefield, who called for three cheers for the Chairman, which were heartily given. The Chairman thanked the meeting for their vote of thanks, saying that he was undeserving of it, as he had only done his duty as an Englishman. The meecing then broke up.

FIRE AT TARARU LIGHTHOUSE. The following is from the Thames Advertiser, 4th March : The fire at Tararu on Thursday evening which was so plainly visible from Grahamstown and Shortland, but respecting which no tidings could be gleaned at either places, prove to have resulted in the destruction of the pyramid Lighthouse. It appears the Lighthousekeeper was in the act of retiring to rest when he was disturbed by the noise of a bursting kerosine lamp in the pyramid building above his head, and in a few minutes later the wooden structure was in flames. The family had barely time to remove a few articles of furniture to a place of safety eie the roof above them gave way, in consequence of two cases of kerosine, which were stored overhead, taking fire. The pyramid, which was totally destroyed, was for some time in use on the Queenstreet Wharf, Auckland, where the lights were used to guide vessels coming up harbor, before their removal to th e the Thames Lighthouse. The fire burned for about thirty minutes and was eventually extinguished by the exertions of the lighthouse-keeper, assisted by a number of men —fortudately without extending to any other building, or even destroying the lower portion thereof. Immediately on these facts being communicated to the Engineer-in-Chief, he, with great promptitude, ordered a red light to be at once fixed on the lower portion of the lighthouse, and a framework to be commenced early this morning. The red light wil therefore be in its position as usual this evening.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN CHRISTCHURCH FfiOM the Canterbury papers we learn of a destructive fire which took place in Oaahel-streetj Cbristcburch, on the 10th

inst. r £he Press, of the 11th, supplies the following particulars:— The fire was discovered at about 3.15 a.m. by Police Sergeant Pratt and Constable Willis, in the London Kestaurant, their attention being first attracted by a column of smoke rising in the air. Pratt at once proceeded to the premises on fire, whilst Willis went to ring the White Hart fire bell. Sergeant Pratt at once aroused the neighbors, and broke into the Restaurant, where he found that the fire had obtained such a hold that nothing could be done until the arrival of the brigade. The Chief Fire Inspector, whose back premises adjoin where the fire broke out, was by this time on the ground, and gave orders to those who were, present to remove the stocks of Mr Standstein, jeweller, next door to the Restaurant, and of Mr Brass, draper, at the angle of Cashel and Colombo streets, which were at once carried into effect. Meanwhile, the fire spread rapidly. Mrs Paterson, who kept the Restaurant, with her barmaid, Miss Williams, had been aroused by Sergeant Pratt, with Mr and Mrs Pearson, fruiterer, in Colombo street. Mr Sandstein and family, in Cashel-street, had to make their escape, but partially dressed. Fortunately, the neighbors kindly took them in, and provided for their wants. The alarm sounded from the White Hart bell was promptly taken up by the central station, and the Fire Brigade, the Fire Police, and the members of the regular police force, together with some of the Volunteers, quickly assembled. No. 2 engine from its close proximity to the scene of the fire was first on the ground under charge Mr Foreman West, but whilst this company was in the act of laying the hose from the tank in front of Matheson'a Agency to Cashel-street we saw the Hook and Ladder Company, under Mr Foreman Wood, arrive, and they at once set to work to remove the fences and out-buildings at the rear of the premises on fire to prevent the conflagration spreading to the buildings in Colombo-street. No. 1 Company was the next in succession, but they could not work their engine, as it had not power to throw water from the tank. The steam fire engine immediately followed, and two lines of hose speedily laid—one to Mr Pratt's, Dunstable house, in Cashel-street, and the other by the right of way in Colombo-street to the rear of the premises, but we regret to say that some minutes elapsed before the water came through the hose on to the burning mass, for at this time the Restaurant, Sandstein's shop and dwelling, the roof of Dunstable house, and the roof of Mr Brass' premises were all on fire, despite the play of the brunch from No. 2 engine. But so soon as the steamer got to work the quantity of water continually thrown upon the fire told very effectually, in fact speedily dashing it out, and thus putting a stop to the danger which at one time was feared from sparks and burning flakes which were carried by the breeze blowing at the time to a considerable dis tance. We may mention that the back of the buildings facing .on Colombo-street were at one time on fire, but were extinguished by the efforts of the Fire Brigade. The London Restaurant, occupied by Mrs Paterson, was insured for £509, and the stock and furniture were insured in the Australian and Alliance for £250, and in the Royal for £SOO. Mr Sandstein was insured in the New Zealand as follows: building, £2OO ; stock, £7OO ; furniture, £SO; and fixtures, £SO. Mr Brass—building, £S00; fixtures, £200; stock, £4OOO, in various offices. Mr Pratt, Dunstable House, had insured the building for £IOOO in the Victoria, the stock was only partially insured, but sufficient to cover any loss. An error occurred in our report yesterday, in stating that Mr Brass was insured for £2,600 in the London Liverpool and Globe Insurance Company. We find that, the risk of that company was considerably under that sum.

A formal inquiry was held on the 11th inst, in Christchurch, befora the coroner and a very influential jury, into the origin, of the above fire. There seem to be very suspicious circumstances connected with the occurrence, for the coroner requested the papers not to publish the evidence, and the inquiry was adjourned for a week, on the application of the legal gentleman employed by the Insurance Offices. A large amount of insurance is involved.

The Evening Post mentions it as rather a singular coincidence that on the same day on which the " Tricker meeting " was held in Wellington, Mr Horace Broughton, whose name has been prominently associated with the case from the first, died in Waoganui, at the early age of 28,