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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 16, Issue 828, 29 September 1870, Page 2

The Outward Mails for Europe, &c, via San Francisco, closes 5 p.m. tomorrow. Conveyance op Mails.—To-morrow is the last day on which tenders may be received at the Chief Post Office for the conveyance of mails during the year 1871. The Glassblowers. —It may be seen by an announcement in our advertising columns this evening, the celebrated American Glassblowers will open their exhibition in the Oddfellow's Hall tomorrow (Friday) evening.

In view of the approaching whaling season, we are informed that two large whaleboats are in course of construction at Wairoa. The Fire at Kohuputiki.—The following is the evidence taken yesterday at the inquiry into the fire by which Paora Torotoro's house was destroyed : —"Paora Torotoro, sworn, deposed,—l was the owner of the house burnt at Kohuputiki on the 20th, August 'last. The fire took place after dark. I had not lived in the house for a few days. I was in a Maori whare at the time of the fire. There were regularly built brick chimneys to the house, ic was a weatherboard building, and cost me £l7O. We burnt coal and firewood. My opinion is that it was set fire to wilfully; but by whom I could not say. I believe the fire originated in my little private room; all my papers and furniture were burnt. No one was in the house at the time of the fire ; some of our people had left it in the afternoon. The house was quite detached.—Teira, an aboriginal native, sworn, deposed, I occupied Paora's house with some others up to the time of the fire. We had dinner together that clay at 3 p.m. in the kitchen. The dinner was cooked in the kitchen; after dinner we left the fire alight; the firewood might probably remain alight for about two hours. The fireplace was bvicked for about five feet from the floor. There was no other fire in the house. lam quite unable to give an opinion as to the origin of the h're. On my way to Pakowhai I met two pakehas coining on the main road. I did not know them ; but I consider they had nothing to do with the fire. We had no matches." The jury returned a verdict to the effect that there was no evidence to show how the lire originated.