WELLINGTON.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 312, 20 December 1884, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

[Own Coiibbspondi-nt.] AN enquiry was held before the Coroner on Thursday touching the late fire on the premises of Mr. Louis Davies, commission agent. At the inquest it was shown that, on examination after the fire, that there was found a lot of wood chopped small, and a quantity of straw, both smelling strongly of kerosene, and placed in a position between the kitchen and sitting room where, if set on fire, they would speedily reduce the premises to ashes. The jury found that the fire was the work of an incendiary, but there was no evidence who the guilty party was. It seems a strange thing that persons who set fire to their premises, or attempt to do so, always use kerosene as an agent of destruction, notwithstanding the .fact that at every inquiry into such cases it is invariably shown that those parts of the premises, or any rags, straw or other inflammable materials which have been saturated with kerosene remain unconsumed and bear witness to the incendiary. Kerosene in fact, while making a blaze which it allowed to spread, consumes all around it, acts a sort of flre-proof protection to the articles on *vhich it is distributed, and thus turns up in evidence against the person making use of it. I leel sure this information will be thankfully receivedbypersonswhointend to discount their premises and raise the wind, at the expense of insurance companies, and that they will in future light up with some other material of a less tell tale description.

There is a terrible feud at present raging between those two great “Archimedean levers ” the Evening Post and the New Zealand Tinies, Of late the war has been carried on with desperate valour on both sides. Ink has been spilt in torrents and type scattered about in great profusion. The cause of the latest outbreak has been the recent telegram from England about Sir Julius Vogtl and the Telephone Company. The Times' in a leading article expressed surprise that this telegram was not “ burked ” by the Post, and the latter referred to this dishonorable inuendo as a piece of shameless journalism on the part of its contemporary. Altogether the quarrel is a petty one, and on both sides there has been a singular want of wit in the writing of the rival editors. 1 would back a couple of old women quarrelling across a fence to say in ten minutes smarter things than have appeared in either paper during a discussion extending over several days. The announcement which was made in the Evening Post on Friday that Sir Julius Vogel intends to take proceedings against the New Zealand Times for libel, and lays the damage at ,£lO,OOO, has caused a good deal of comment in private circles, and quite a flutter among the lawyers. In acting as above bir Julius is only taking the advice offered to him a few days ago by the Times itself, which regretted that he had not taken steps to clearacter as a plaintiff against those who aspersed it. The limes evidently intended the Treasurer “to go” for some of the London papers which had made statements reflecting on his honor, which statements it had itself republished from time to time, quite forgetting that if they were libellous in London they were equally so in the colony. Sir Julius has apparently taken the New Zealand Times' 1 advice rather too literally for the latter, but what the result of this mammoth prosecution will be it is very hard to guess. Possibly it may end in smoke.

Mr. Joseph Mackay, who was lately ap> pointed lecturer ana canvasser for the Equitable Assurance Society of the United States, i« again out of a billet. Mr, Mackay advertised a free lecture at the Athenasum here for Monday night under the title of “ Twa hours at name." The lecture was supposed to be in connection with his appointment for the new Company. In the advertisement calling the meeting he described himself as “ The Prince of Modern Lecturers " and added further that Dr. Carr had described him several years ago, in one of the Wellington papers as a “ literary Gladiator who would yet make his mark u/on New Zealand.” (The italics are mine.) The lecture came off as advertised and certainly was one of the queerest exhibitions made on a public platform ever since the “ Real Mackay ” lectured last, whenever that was. Anyhow the manager of the company, who was present, thought so highly of it that he cancelled the appointment next day, and advertised in the Post that “ in consequence of the state of Mr. Joseph Mackay’s health ” it was not considered advisable that he should further represent the company. This is not the end of the matter however, for I understand Mr. Mackay has served the company with a writ claiming heavy damages for illegal dismissal.