The Southland Times. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1866.

Southland Times, Issue 571, 28 September 1866, Page 2

The Southland Times. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1866.

Between two and three o'clock 01/ the mornin* of Wednesday, 26th instant, the dismal tingle — we cannot use any other expression — of the fire bell was heard, and aronsed the whole inhabitants from their slumbers. Upon proceeding to the locality of the conflagration we found the building known as the Marine Hotel, one mass of fire, in lesa than an hour it was with all its outbuildings totally consumed. The origin of the fire is as yet undiscovered. The hotel has been unoccupied raid the doors open for weeks. A shortime before the fire broke out, the police officer on that beat passed the building and nothing strange appeared. An inquest upon the origin of the fire was held yesterday, and was adjourned until this day, for the presence of important witnesses. Files of the Nelson papers to the 18th September have been received. They are almost entirely filled with reports of the fourth and fifth day'strial of the Maungatapu murderers— Burgess, Kelly, and Levy. A number of witnesses hare been examined, but no fresh matter introduced. Burgess and Kelly made long comments in summing up the evidence ; Mr Pitt, on behalf of Levy, in a powerful speech endeavored to show the worthlessness of Sullivan's evidence. His Honor the judge carefully summed up, and with impartiality disected the evidence that had been adduced, pointing out that if there was any misgiving as to the prisoners guilt the prisoners werp entitled to the benefit of the'doubt. The verdict of guilty was returned, and the sentence of death passed. Since that date Sullivan has been placer! upon his trial. The following telegram we extract from the Daily Times, 22nd of September, it is dated from Nelson, 19th inst. It says :— " Sullivan was tried to-day, for the murder of James Battle, by a Special Jury. The wifrn<\«* recorded a plea of not guilty, formerly put, and to put in a pica in accordance with a statement : — namely, complicit-ed in murder, by bein" associated with the murderers ; but not guilty o 1 actual murder. The Judge recordea » plea onot guilty. Evidence adduced for the Crown over the same ground as formerly in traci'ig Battle and the whereabouts of his murderers. Shailcross swore to Sullivan's written confession . Sullivan made a long address to the jmy. After an absence of twenty minutes, a verdict of " Guilty " was returned. Sullivan said nothin? in bar of sentence of death, which was pronounced. He wept when the Judge referred to his wife. It is believed that he will not be hanged. "Wanted as evidence in the West Coast murders. The subjoined telegraphic report, which we extract from the "Daily Times," of the 22nd September, contains information tfhat has not yet been published here. It is under date 2 'th September. It says : — In the House of Representatives, Mr Crosbie Ward proposed that the Stamp Duties should affect the North Island only. The motion wa? lost. The first reading of the Debtors and Creditors Act was carried by a majority of one. It i 8 not likely to go through. The Local Government Bill met with great opposition. Three clauses passed, and the remainder were adjourned to Monday. Mr Whitaker's motion for dividing the Bforth Island into two Provinces, was lost. The Government refuse to produce the Tariff Bill until the Schedule of Stamps is passed. The Southland Bill comes on to-night. The Government agreed to a compromise. The debts are to be paid in cash on or before the 31st December, 1868, meanwhile all creditors are to receive Certificates. The Government to have power to allow the Province pastoral rents after this year. The Bill is likely to pass early. The TJdper House amended the Land Bill slightly. The amendment is not important. The Upper House have made important alterations in the Goldfields Act, and have increased the Miners' Eight from ten shillings to one pound. A con ference between the two Houses is likely to set the matter right. A despatch from Sydney insists on the terminus of the Panama service being there, and that all Australian mails be shipped there, otherwise they will withdraw absolutely from the contract. The Government announce that they concur in the rqeuest of Sydney.