SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1886, 4 November 1874, Page 3

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

(Per Anglo-Australian Telegraph Press Agency.) < -» Auckland, Tuesday, 6.45 p.m. The Eifle Association meeting commenced to-day, being the first of two competitions. The second comes off on Thuisday. The first competition is for a silver cup, presented by the Association, and a cup presented by Mr Beck. The following scores were made to-day:— Fkinner, 64; Kelly, 63; Soall, 59; Kitchen, 58; Bowden, 56; Davis, 56 ; Hay, 65; Mills, 55; Payne. 53; Cooper, 52; May, 51; Haslett, 51; W. Partington, 50; Stone, 49. The ranges were 400,500, and 600 yards. There was a strong breeze with fine weather.. The inquest on the fire m Wakefieldstreet was resumed to-day. William Avery, saddler, Grahamstown, deposed to occupying the house in the rear of Kemsley's shop. My mother, sister, and Mrs Stringer were living with me. I was out that evening, and returned at a quarter past 11. The three ladies went to bed on my return. There was no fire in the house at that time. I retired a few minutes after. My sleeping room was close to the prisoner's shed. Shortly after I was awakened by a noise. I got up and looked out to ascertain the cause. I then saw a light, and heard the noise of fire. I called out " Fire!" and aroused the inmates, and ran over to the firebell. The fire was then just breaking from the end of the prisoner's shed. I went back to the house. I believe the fire originated in the shed, _ and am positive it did not arise in my house, because it bad not caught when I came back from the bell. My house consisted of two rooms. There was no fire in my place after 5 o'clock. Constable Tierney deposed : On the morning of the fire I was on duty in Queen-street. When near the PaciEc Hotel, I saw fire rising from Kemsley's shop. I tried to get in by the gatoway leading to the shed, but it was.fast. I then rang the firebell, and tried to burst open the door of Kemsley's china shop. 1 got into the hotel yard by_ the gateway. The fire was very intense in Kemsley's yard. There was no possibility of saving anything in Kemsley's house Avery's house was not on fire.

Constable O'Heilly deposed: t went insidethepremisesaudfoundKcinsley'shouse in a mass of flame. I aav no signs of bedding or clothing about the place. William Henry Piper, carpenter, deposed: I am foreman of the Hook and Ladder Company attached to the Fire Brigade. I was aroused by the bell on the morning in question, and went down to Wakefield-street. I saw Kemsley's house on fire. Other members of the Brigade came up, and tried to get into the windows, and found that impossible, owing to the fire and smoke. A voice then cried out, "It is no use getting in there; there is no one in the house." I went into the shop, and found the back part of the shop and the staircase in flames. Nothing could be saved. John Smith deposed: I am an expressman, living in Elliott-street. I am owner of horses and vehicles. I know John Kemsley. I saw hira on the 21st of October in Queen-street, He asked for my horse and trap to go to the Whau in the evening and fetch his wite and children. I told him he could have them, and accordingly took them to his shop and left them there. I noticed a large basket in the shop .full of crockeryware. I had no particular conversation with him. There was an old gentleman present, and Kemsley was speaking of the mysterims way which fires occurred in Auckland. He said he had been overhauling the store at the back, and iu removing some old things found a lot of small straw collected' by the rats, and amongst it some matches. I was awoke at half-past 3 by the alarm of fire. I went into the place, and saw some account books and papers which I laid hold of, when Fred Lewis tapped me on the back and said," Give them to me." I saved some crockery on the same morning. After the fire Kemsley gave the salvage into my charge. It was chiefly crockery. I ftent to Mrs Malam's, at the Whau, where the prisoner was staying. I told him what had occurred. Kemsley and his wife were shocked at the news. I thought it better to go to them at the Whau than allnv them to come into Auckland to find no home. Eemsley said it was a very bad job, as he should looso £200. • He also said it might have happened through the people in the cottage, who had been drinking and quarrelling all day. I met Kemsley on the afternoon before the fire. He asked me if I would take a cask of night shades to Mr Dowden, auctioneer. He said they were to be 'sold, but I don't remember'if he told me to enter them in my name.. He said also he was sorry he had not made a return out for tho Insurance Companies, as it might get him into bother if found out. The case was by the side of Woodward's bakehouse. He said subsequently he had altered his mind, and the cuse had better not be takeu to Dowden s. He then wished me to keep it in my possession for the present, and said the caso was covered over with zinc, and a large stoue placed on it. The case was 4 feet Cinches in height. I pulled it over, but could not raise it without help. I took it to my stable in Market-place. He asked me sovoral times to take it to tho Whau. Un the day of last inquiry he wished me to to take it to a nouse ho had rented near Thomas's mill, I started with it on that day, but was overtaken by Detective Ternahan and Constable Bullen, and returned with it to tho police station. When it was taken charge of by the police it appeared to be in the same state as when I took it from Woodward's. I did not open it. I removed Kemsley's furniture trom Pousouby road to the place of the fire about five months ago, at the time when he went into tho shop. On the 28th I was asked to remove some goods from Woodward's at the market house, by a man named Butterworth. I went next morning and got two casks and two cases, which I took to Dowdon's auction room, The inquiry was here adjourned till to morrow. There were 15 other witnesses. Sharemarket,—Buyers: Albion, 60s; City of London, 24s 6d. Business done: Cures, lis 6d.

Cobomandel, Monday,

Thomas Watson, lately a cook at WhangapoaSaw Mill, was found drowned on tho beach yesterday. He left hero a week ago for Cabbage Bay, drunk. He came from Auckland on Friduy week, drunk. He is naid to have a wife in Auckland, aud (q bo of good family at km?.