HAWKE'S BAY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XI, Issue 655, 16 February 1859, Page 3

HAWKE'S BAY.

We have, copies of the 'Herald' of the 26th and 29th ult. The writs for the election of members of Council had arrived, but the polling places had not been gazetted as required by the Act; thus causing delay. It is presumed that the first election will be that for. the town of Napier, on the 15th and 16th February. Some candidates are forward, among whom, we recognise the following names,-famous in Ahuriri: Messrs.. Tiffen, Munn," Worgan, and Ferguson. The paper, controversy about the proper mail for Superintendent still goes on, and no third name is yet announced. We find the following paragraph:—

Lamentable Fire at Onepoto.—On Saturday last, at eleven o'clock p.m., a lire broke out in a whare in Onepoto valley, occupied by Serjeant Parker arid his family. The Serjeant was on guard at the time; owing, it may be in part to his absence, but. principally attributable to the rapid progress of the flames, everything in the whare, including a large stock of leather, &c. was destroyed; and, horrible to relate, a child of tender years was burnt to death . Two other huts, occupied respectively-by privates Duffey and Clark, with their families, were also, burnt, a fourth'having been pulled ,to the ground to stay the'spread of the conflagration. We learn, however, that from these the personal property, was,all saved. The cause of-the fire is detailed in the report of the inquest, which will be found below. On Monday, with a feeling and promptitude'which"'do him much credit, Mr. J. A. Smith collected .£l3 13s. 6d. towards the relief of the sufferers—which sum, we understand, has since been made up in the camp to £35 15s. — Herald, Jan. 29. -

On Monday last an inquest was ; held at the Victoria Hotel, Onepoto*, before Thomas Hitchings, Esq., coroner, and a jury, oh the body of Charles Parker, aged 16 months, the son of Serjeant Parker, :65th Regiment, who met" his death on the night of Saturday last, by the burning of the whare in which Parker and his family-iesided. .The jury first inspected the body, which presented a horrible spectao!e,^beihg;nearly burnt to a cinder; and on re-as-semblingthefollowing; witnesses,were (jailed:—

Mary Anne Parker, the mother of the deceased, who deposed that on the night in question, between 10 and'll o'clock, she was .walking about her whare with a candle'in her liaridj and aceidently the curtains' caught light; so sooffias the wli'are was alight, she gave the alarm of fire, and. some soldiers rushed in and; took.her out, and thenwent in for the children, four of whom were, rescued. The soldiers were not aware that deceased was in the cradle by itself, and she had so lost her presence of.mind, that she, thought deceased was brought; out with the other children.

William Duffey, private 65th Eegiment, deposed that on the-night in question, hearing an alarm of fire, he rushed, into the, whare .and endeavoured without effect to stop the fire. The report was that all the children were rescued, and it was not till after the whare. was burnt to the ground that deceased's body was obtained.

coroner here stated that it appeared to him that no doubt could exist as to the origin of the fire,,which was the main question of enquiry, and if the'jury we're of the same opinion they would perhaps find their verdict, but if they required evidence it should be produced. The jury immediately returned a verdict of " Accidentally burnt to death."— lbid.