PIGEONGRAMS

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3794, 24 February 1881, Page 3

PIGEONGRAMS

TE AKOSA.

Te Akoha, This day, 11 a.m

On Tuesday evening at about 11 o'clock the raupo whare, formerly occupied by the prisoner Procoffi, was destroyed by fire. Whether the coijflagation was the result of design or accident has not yet transpired, though there are many who state they believe it may be attributed to the former. It appears since the murder some of the neighbours have been filled with a kind of superstitious fear of the whare, and Romeone may have caused the fire in consequence of that feeling of dread. It will doubtless be remembered that during the inquest the witness Moore stated he heard prisoner's fingers working with the raupo roof In consequence of this evidence Serge. Mulville searched the materials of the frail structure, but found nothing. Now comes the interesting portion ,of the narrative. Yesterday morning Messrs John Moore (not prisoner's roate) and Hinton were searching the ruins and came on the steel clasps of a purse and three rings—one brass and two silver — lying close together as though they had been inside the purse at the time of the fire. The finders at once saw that the rings were similar to those ©ften worn by natives^ one of them having been made from ajsliilling. Mr Moore cleaned the 'fit^Cies, and after some trouble, found that there were letters inside. He took them to the police, when it was discovered that the letters—which were rude ".Roman capitals—spelt " MIHI MERA " and " MIHI." The ringvS were shown to Mick, the native constable, who im-

mediatly said they were those of & female relation of Himiona's. It is needless to « say that this evidence is very strong against the prisoner. Constable Hogan rode to Paeroa last evening in company with Hinton, who will no doubt be produced as a witness at the hearing of the case against Procoffi, which takes place at the Thames today. The battery has at-last been started, men being employed yesterday to dig the foundation, and a start will be made at once with the erection of the building. Mr H. H. Adams has been appointed by the direotors to superintend the construction.

Te Aroha.—The drive from the surface to ventilate the winze workings is now in 25 feet, through good country. The manager is still awaiting instructions from his directors regarding the prosecution of

the lower tunnel

We have reason to believe that the Eina Morgan Hotel has changed hands at a good figure. Mr G. T. Wilkinson, Native Agent,

will be here on Monday or Tuesday to , pay over the money due to the native owners of the goldfield.