WAVERLEY.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 445, 19 July 1879, Page 2

WAVERLEY.

(From our own Correspondent.) After reading the account of the Maori prisoner’s revolt in the New Zealand Mail , all right-thinking people must feel that the thanks of the country are due to Mr Mackey for his “ pluck and determination” in pronouncing the mystic words “ guard turn out,” which brought not only the guard, but 75 armed constables in light and airy costume to the scene of action. Had those words not been spoken, Wellington, for all we know the whole country, might have been overrun by a horde of (27) bloodthirsty savages—unarmed truly, but headed by a leader flourishing that weapon so dreaded by unruly husbands—a broom. 0 tempora ! 0 mores } An inquest was held on Wednesday last (before C. A. Wray, Esq., R.M.), on the.late fire at Mr Milne’s.

Mr Bridge was Foreman of the Jury

The first witness was Mr Wilson Milne, who deposed—l am a settler in the Wairoa district, and the owner of the house that was burned. I was sleeping in the house on the night of the 25th Juno. About five or six o’clock .on the morning of the 26th, I was awakened by the smell of smoke, and a noise like the roaring of fire. I called to my son who was sleeping with me. He got up and went down stairs. I heard him call out that the house was on fire. My two sons, my daughter, and a working man were sleeping upstairs. I was the last to go downstairs. When I went down, the staircase was on tire, also the storeroom which was in the lean-to at the north end of the house; the passage between the stairs and the store-room was also on fire. The tire then burst through the window and caught the roof, running over it to the west side. The whole building was then on fire, which burnt so quickly that it was impossible to take any measures to arrest it. Nothing in the house was saved. I cannot account for the fire in any way. Some fire might have been left in the fire-place in the kitchen. When I first saw the fire outside it was coming from under the house, but 1 cannot say whether it originated there. The wind was from the northwest. The fire-place was on the opposite side of the house to where I first saw the fire. My daughter was in the storeroom about nine o’clock on the previous evening. I was up about 3 a.m., but did not leave my bed-ioom. I noticed nothing at that time. My door was shut. The house was insured for £IOO in the name of my sons, Alexander and John Milne. The property belongs to me. My sons have a lease of it. John Milne stated—l was living on the premises in question. I slept in the house on the night of the 25th June. Between 5 and 6 o’clock on the morning of the 26tb, my father called me and told me to get up, as he heard a noise as if a chimney was on fire. 1 went down stairs and found the store room on tire. I called to all to come down stairs, as the house was on fire, and they would be burned. I opened the door of the store room, and found it in flames. My brother then came downstairs, and throw a backet of water into the room. Ho then went for more water. I shut the door to keep in the flames. The man, Fred Paterson, then came downstairs. I ran upstairs, and found my father, who was stupefied by the smoke, and could not find his way down. I pushed him down the stairs before me. My sister seeing the passage on fire, got out of the window on to the verandah, ami thence to the ground. The house was entirely in flames ten minutes after we wore out. There was nothing saved. I had not time to dress. There was no fire-place near the storeroom. I cannot account in any way for the fire. The fire was strongest on the wall outside the house. My brother and myself tried to save something out of the parlour window. My brother got in at the window, but had to come out at once, owing to the smoke. The house was insured in the National Insurance Company for £IOO. It was valued at the time of insurance at £550, without furniture. I did not see any one about the place that night, and have no reason to suspect any one of having set fire to the house. There was nothing in the store room likely to be set fire to by a spark from a candle. There was no kerosene in the room. I estimate the loss at £BOO. A house like the one burned would cost about £6OO. Alexander Oatto Milne stated—when I came down stairs I looked into »the kitchen. There was no fire there then. I went to get a ladder for the purpose of getting my sister and father out of the upstairs window. When I returned they were all out. I believe the house was burnt to the ground in half an hour. 1 was in the storeroom about half past ten on the previous night. I had no light with me. All appeared safe then. I value the house and furniture at £BOO or more. It would cost about £6OO to build a house of the same sort. After the fire was over, I saw a puppy about the place. I cannot say to whom it belonged. I have seen no Maoris about the place for three or four months, but I believe there were some seen near Mr Sinclair’s on the morning before the fire. [The remainder of Mr A. Milne’s evidence corroborated that of Mr J. Milne’s.3 Virdict—That, in the opinion of this Jury, there is no evidence to show from what cause the fire originated.

The usual monthly meeting of the School Committee was held on Wednesday. Present —Messrs Mason (chairman), Milne, Mathieson, McDonald, Thurston. Mrs Taylor’s tender (£5 for six months) for teaching sewing, was accepted. Proposed by Mr Thurston, seconded by Mr Mathieson, and carried, “ That the Committee approve of master David Low as pupil teacher.” Letter read from the Schoolmaster, suggesting a quarterly payment by parents of one shilling for every child learning writing; this sum to pay for copy books, writing and blotting paper, and slate pencils; and also informing the Committee that he had commenced a Latin class.—Agreed to. Proposed by Mr Mason, seconded by Mr Thurston, and carried, “ That this Committee cordially endorse the resolution passed by the Wanganui School Committee at their meeting on the 11th inst., with regard to reading the Bible in Schools.”

MANUTAHI. (from a correspondent.) July 16. The Manntahi Amusement Society held its second entertainment on Wednesday, July 9th, when the songs, recitations, &c., were remarkably well rendered, and the whole affair must be pronounced a decided success. The audience—which was the largest yet obtained, and which completely filled the Block-house—ex-pressed themselves highly pleased with the performance. Mr J. G. Ginger occupied the chair. At 10.30 the room was cleared for dancing, which was kept up for several hours with much spirit. Yesterday (loth) a parade of the Manutahi Volunteers was hold for drill, about 26 being present out of 40 members. A meeting was first held in the Block-house for the purpose ot passing rules, which had been previously drawn up by a committee. One of the said rules provided that u the non-commis-sioned officers be elected by the company.” Captain Ginger said he had appointed most of the non-commissioned officers, but would be willing to allow the company to elect the remainder, or to fill any vacancies which might occur in future, provided Government sanctioned the above rule, which he thought doubfnl, as it was contrary to the regulations. He also stated that the result of his experience was directly opposed to the elective system.

The meeting then adjourned for drill, after which the above subject again cropped up, anil another and very stormy meeting took place, during which a resolution was passed, calling on the noncommissioned officers appointed by the Captain tores'gn. Upon which Captain Ginger at once stated his intention of resigning, as such a resolution could only mean a vote of want of confidence in himself. Lieutenant Wallace and Sub Lieutenant Morgan followed suit. Strange to say, the three most prominent members of what may be called the opposition, appeared disgusted with the turn affairs had taken, and handed in their arms, instead of remaining in the Company to enjoy the results of their schemes, for the success of which one of them at least, had been industriously plotting some weeks. Apparently they cannot be pleased anyhow. The non-commissioned officers have, of course, resigned as requested, and many more would probably leave the Corps wore it not for their disinclination to give up their arms during the pres ut unsettled state of the district.