LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 5, Issue 241, 27 June 1861, Page 3

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Fire. Between six amhv seven in the morning of Friday the. 21st; the dwelling-house and outbuildings adjoiningidT/Mr; H.B. Roberts, solicitor (whose officer was destroyed By fire a short time since), wereudiscovered to be in flames. The houses stood about two miles from town on tlie No. 2 line. The dwelling house had been lately vacated by Mr. Roberts on his removal to a new house in its neighbourhood, and he had deposited therein the whole of his farming produce, for the past year, his farming and dairy implements and utensils, together witli other goods which lie lmd not removed to his new residence. The loss is estimated at upwards of £6OO. There was no insurance. The premises had been unoccupied, and there had been no-fire in them for several weeks. No servant 1 had been there for two days previously, and on each of the three days preceding the fire Mr. Roberts’ daughter‘and biqiself had been engaged there Until dark, without fire or candle, sorting and arranging articles. About three hours before the fire was observed, Mr. Roberts was awakened by the barking of his" dogs, and as the

noise continued lie went ottt. 2*he. dogs Were} looking in the direction; of hi? former dwelling.} The night was clear, but as he could Hot perceive anything in that direction, which he must have done had there been any fire or smoke, he quieted the dogs and retired id rest. He was shortly afterwards again awakened by a heavy shower accompanied by a vivid flash of light, but to which, considering it to be distant lightning, he paid no further attention. The circumstances leave little doubt of its having been the act of an incendiary. Mr. Roberts had lately prosecuted a native for stealing two bullocks, and had a week before the fire discharged another for pilferiug. A reward of £ls is offered to the natives for the discovery of tlie perpetrator. The Natives. —Mention was made lately of settlers at Otaki summoning Natives before the King’s courts. An instance occurred the other day at Rangitikei of a settler being summoned before one of these courts, and attending it.. He had killed by mistake a bullock belonging to a native, and judgment was given against him for £U compensation for the bullock and 2Gs costs, which he paid. The fees are on the same scale as those of the Resident Magistrates’ courts. A case occurred lately, of a sow with a litter of pigs, belonging? to Mr. Treweek at Kai-iwi, being killed in one of his paddocks by some NVaitotara natives. On his demanding £5 as compensation, they offered him £2, and said that if compulsory measures were used to enforce payment, the consequence would be that war would be begun here. Thus the matter stood for a few weeks, during which, Pehiinana, one of their chiefs, endeavoured to have the matter settled amicably, and last week he gave the Resident Magistrate the £5 claimed by Mr. Treweek. The act speaks for itself. A.slight contest took place the other day between Mr. R. T. Shield, settler on the left bank, and a man in his employ, on the one side, and five A'gatitu natives on the other, respecting an adze which they had just stolen from Mr. Shield’s ground, fortunately, Mr. Shield acted with as " much prudence as energy, and the adze was recovered without serious injury to either party, although at one time the fight assumed rather a serious aspect. All such occasions of collision should be carefully avoided by the settlers.

Tueakina Market. —This market was held on the 7th inst. Only one fonr year old gelding was sold at £l7. A number of fat cattle were on the ground, but there was no purchaser. Wanganui A/arket. —The disadvantage of being without a Local, Board ha 3 been manifested in the endeavour to establish this market. The committee appointed at the meeting of the inhabitants held on the 10th ult. wrote to the Superintendent on the 16th ult., informing him of what had been done, and intimating that they proposed having the Market-place fenced off, a shed built inside, and such other accommodation provided as would be necessary for the frequenters of the market, —all which, they estimated, would cost about £l5O. They asked his Honor to instruct the Provincial Surveyor to mark off the boundaries of the Market-place, and to infirm them if they were authorized to go on with the proposed works, or if the Government would appoint Market Commissioners, and whether any assistance might be expected from the Provincial Government in carrying out what was proposed. No answer has as yet been received from the Superintendent, so that the committee cannot well act. If. they bad requested any of our members to look after the matter during the late session of the Council, it would no doubt have been attended to. In consequence of the late fire, and this doubt as to- the future arrangements in regard to the market, but little was doue on the first day of its being held. Perhaps it would be better were there a longer interval between the Wanganui and Z’urakina markets. If a fortnight were to intervene, the convenience of those attending both markets would he more consulted.

7'he -Shipment of Live Stock foe Auckland. —The owners of this shipment have been very unfortunate. In the severe storm on the night of the 21st they lost 23 cattle (all on board except one) and GO sheep. Fortunately, Mr. Alexander, one of the charterers, was on board, and as it was needless to go on to Auckland, he made an arrangement with the agents, by which the vessel was permitted to bring down the detachment of the 57th. The passengers for Auckland went on by tlie Airedale. The remaining sheep were landed at Tarauaki. The actual loss to the shippers is about ,£350. The Electoeal Disteict Revising Couet. —We understand that Mr. Hart found it unnecessary to proceed to Rangitikei for the purpose of revising the Roll. River Bank.—-A public meeting was held in the York Hotel on Friday last for the purpose of appointing a committee to receive the Government grant of money, aud of empowering the said committee to expend the money received in protecting the River bank from ‘further injury. The following gentlemen were appointed a committee: —Messrs. J. M. Richards, J. F. Kells, Soulby, John Jackson, Mailman, Geo. Roberts, and Field. It was re solved that five should form a quorum ; and with a vote of thanks to the chairman, the meeting separated. Thereafter the committee met and appointed Mr. Soulby their chairman. He was requested to write to the Provincial Government, mentioning what had been done; asking hints as to their future proceedings, and whether the appointment of the .committee required to be made formally by its being gazetted ; and requesting that the sum voted for the work should be placed to the credit of the cbair-

The Oriental Bank.— The branch of this bank here will be withdrawn in the beginning of next month, and a branch of the bauk of New Suuth Wales will take its place. Mr. Russell} the agent for the Oriental, will remain for a month or two fo wind up tho business.

No. 1 Company Volunteers. —At a late meeting of this company it was resolved to adopt a uniform, and that of the Surrey Rifles was chosen. 7t consists of a tunic and trowsers made of green cloth, bordered and ornamented With black braid; and will no doubt have a very smart appearance: It is to be sent for from .England, and will probably be here in time for the grand parade at Christmas* Earthquakes. —There have ‘ been several shakes during the last fortnight, the most noticeable of which were three on Wednesday the 13th inst., all slight J a rather smart one on Sunday the 16th, about halfipast ten in the morning; and another, considerably reduced in force last Sunday morning at ten o’clock. The weather has been close and warm for the season of the year, and there was a heavy fall of rain on (Sunday and Monday last, and againyesterday. 7’iie Comet. —This beautiful object, to be seen in the morning in the east, has :i very bright nucleus, and a Jail which is visible' for several degrees even in the present bright moonlight. The weather during the three' weeks it has been visible lias not been very' favourable for observing it, having been in the? morning for the most part lmzy or cloudv'.Z'he only known comets which should make' their appearance about this time are those of De Vico and Peters ; but like the one which was visible a year ago, the present may not yet have been catalogued. Common SenooL. —The annual meeting takes place to-morrow evening in the SchoolRoom. Zliere should be a good attendance. The Town Defences. —Major Logan who now commands here proposes building, picket houses round the outskirts of the town* if lie can get £2OO from the Provincial Gcv--ernmeut to provide the materials, and permission from the various owners of the ground. lie has other plans for the defence of theplace in case war should break out, that giveconfidence both in his judgment and energy.

Thf 57th first detachment that arrived have been lodged in theYork (Stockade, and the second have pitched their tents on the flat, at the foot of the York H ill, at its west side.