PALMERSTON NORTH.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5214, 7 December 1877, Page 3

PALMERSTON NORTH.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Palmerston, December 3. The inhabitants of Palmerston, have had during the past week excitement enough to last them for some time. After being startled and horrified by the appalling nature of the murder in the bush at Woodville on Friday, November 23, they were hurried into the contemplation on Tuesday, the 27th, of what threatened at one time to be a most serious and destructive fire. The extent of the damage, owing to the courageous behavior of many of those who were present, was not so great as was at first expected. The premises of Sir. Halford Snelson, brother of the Mayor, where the fire occurred, are situate in Mainstreet, in the centre of the town, next to the offices of Mr. Warburton, solicitor. The fire was first observed in one of the upper rooms of Mr. Snelson’s house, which was a new twostorey edifice consisting of a store and dwellinghouse, and as it was supposed was put out, but unfortunately there was still life in the smoking woodwork, and shortly after 9 o’clock the upper part of the building was observed to be in flames. The most spirited exertions were made to save Mr, Waidmrton’s offices, which are not more than eight or nine yards away from the store, and thanks to a few devoted men who stationed themselves on the roof of the building and poured buckets of water on to the scorching wall, the fire was confined to Mr. Suelson’s house. At 12 o’clock the fire was over, but only the smoking remans of Mr. Suelsou’s house were left, while Mr. Warburton’s office, charred and dismantled, presented a most melancholy sight. We were much interested in some Wellington newspaper reports of the disaster, and that which appeared in the columns of one of your evening contemporaries especially amused us. The murder at.Woodville has created some little excitement here. The murdered man, George Ollandt, was found in the bush on Friday morning, horribly gashed and mutilated about the face and head. Suspicion seems immediately to have fastened on his partner, who, as you are aware, awaits his trial at the Supreme Court at Napier. On Wednesday the 28th ult. Mr. G. M. Snelson was without opposition re-elected Mayor for the ensuing twelve months. This election has met with approbation on all sides, as during the short time he has already held office Mr. Snelson has discharged his duties with great credit, and by working well for the Interests of the borough has proved himself in every way fitted for the post.