TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4139, 26 June 1874, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

[Press Telegraph Agency.] Auckland, Thursday. The charge of incendiarism at Hobson’s Buildings against the youth Alexander Brown, son of Samuel Brown, property owner in Shortland Street, was commenced to-day. The Heralds shipping reporter stated that subsequent to the fire Brown urged him to advocate in that paper the granting to him of a reward for discovering the fire and saving the block. The evidence of the Inspector of Police chiefly related to a contradiction in the prisoner's version of having seen a man do the deed and run away, and of having discovered a portion of the Jewish Chronicle, a lamp wick, rags> &c., which were identical with other portions of the same articles found in the house of the accused’s father. The case will last several days. Grahamstown, Thursday. Perritt, who was killed in the Pumping Association’s shaft, was buried with military honors this afternoon. . There was a large attendance at the funeral, including representatives from all the volunteers corps. The Thames Masonic banquet was held last night to celebrate the installation of the officers of the lodge. The Revision Court finished its sittings last night. There ■were not many objections sustained, considering the large number objected to. Napier, Thursday. Last night there was an exciting scene in the Council. In Committee of Supply, on the item “ Ooro Road £SOO ” being brought on, Mr. Buchanan (Speaker) urged that the question of increasing the vote to £IOOO, should be discussed then. Mr. Ormond maintained that it should not be discussed until the estimates were gone through. Mr. Buchanan said this item was being treated differently from the previous one for the Middle Road, and the reason was that Mr. Ormond was interested in the Middle Road, as he was a part purchaser of the Mount Erin run, to which it led. Mr. Ormond said this was untrue. Mr. Buchanan repeated it. Mr. Ormond ■ said it was a gross misstatement. Mr. Tanner, owner of the Mount Erin run, corroborated Mr. Ormond. Mr. Carlile maintained that the item was being treated iu the same manner as all previous items, and said that Mr. Buchanan wanted the item passed without debate. There was a special reason for making a stand in tills case, because it had occurred on several occasions that the questions in which Mr. Buchanan was interested were allowed to pass without debate, members fearing that if they opposed him there would be a scene. Whenever he was ojiposed he became vehement, jiersoual, and abusive. Mr. Buchanan said Mr. Carlile, no doubt, had his cue to attack him, and was the Executive without office. If the Council agreed that he had been abusive, he would resign the speakership. He would leave the room while they discussed the subject. Mr. Carlile said lie considered the recent gross misstatement abusive, and did not care whether the Council thought so or not. Mr. Buchanan thou left the room, followed by Mr. Carlile. Tlie Council proceeded to discuss the estimates, taking no notice of the matter. Mr. Carlile shortly re-entered followed by Mr. Buchanan, Mr. Ormond said now that Mr. Buchanan had returned to his seat lie would say that the statement re Mount Erin run 'was baseless, and that it was a scandal to the Council that it showed connection with them, which perhaps they did not know before. He (Buchanan) had held himself up to the people as the man who was to get the plains for the Province. The fact was he (Buchanan) had been tlie agent for a speculator (Mr. James Stewart), who intended to get the plains for himself. Mr. Buchanan denied having been a paid agent, but was forced to admit that he was interested in the speculation. Mr. Ormond drew attention to this admission, remarking that this application about the plains had been a portion of Mr. Buchanan’s stock-in-trade for years past. Mr. Buchanan said if Mr. Ormond had acted from self-interest iu the present instance,- he had done so throughout his career. He had deprived Napier of the plains. Mr. Ormond said the sole foundation for this charge was that he had bought a farm of 1200 acres on the plains, as anyone else might have done, which he occupied ns a hon a fide settler, and had greatly improved. He could tell the Council something of Buchanan. It was now manifest he had been humbugging the people all the time. Mr. Carlile said that the statement that he had been incited-to attack Buchanan by Mr. Ormond was one of the numerous falsehoods Mr. Buchanan had given vent to during tliis evening.