LATEST AUCKLAND NEWS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2299, 5 April 1887, Page 2

LATEST AUCKLAND NEWS.

(by telegraph.—own correspondent.) Mr Larnach. Auckland, Monday Night. Mr Larnach, goes to Coromandel tomorrow, thence via Thames to Te Aroha returning through Waikato. Outburst of Fever. Five cases of fever, one diptheria has been reported to-day. Fatal Accident. Robert Spick a settler at Paparoa was killed by the falling of a tree. Discovery of Gold at the Great Barrier. Mr Larnach to-day, advised those interested in the gold discovery at the Great , Barrier to form a company to work the ground. Charge of Arson. At the Police Court to-day the hearing of the evidence in the charge of arson against Mrs Violet McPhee was commenced, before the R.M. The accused was dulv charged with having wilfully and maliciously set tire to certain premises in Vic-toria-street, on 2(ith March last, the said house being the property of John James, with intent to defraud. Mr Hugh Camphell appeared on behalf of the Norwich Union Insurance Company, and conducted the prosecution, Messrs Potter and Brassey appearing for the accused. The fire occurred about 3 o'clock on the morning of Saturday, 2(ith March. The accused occupied half of a two storey double house in a thickly populated portion of Victoria-street West. He shortly reviewed the evidence, which he proposed to adduce. He would show that there was fire in both lower and upper rooms of the house. Although there was evidently no connection, he contended that there was _ evidence that these four fires had not originated accidentaly, and also that there was no evidence of motive, in fact, that the furniture and effects were insured in the Norwich Union for £125. Mrs McPhee had asked for £200, hut only effected the amount mentioned. There was also another suspicious fact, that when the agent visited the house he was shown a large box, which was said to contain £25 worth of gold. A few days before the fire this box was removed to the house of a Mrs Wells to be taken care of. After the fire this box was found to contain £25 worth of goods. The furniture in the house at the time of the fire had been valued at £46. These facts, he thought, would show that the fire was not accidental, but had been designedly started. There was kerosene about, which had gone through the oil cloth on to the floor near the dining-room fireplace. There were traces of fire on the hearth vug and floor, and the end of the hearth rug was also burned, and the bottom was burned out of the cane-bottomed chairs. There was kerosene oil upon both ends of the hearth rug; it was satuated through. Kerosene _ could be observed on the under-side. There was no connection whatever between the fire at the middle and that at the window. He also produced an oil-cloth taken from beneath the two chairs which had the bottoms burned out ; it had kerosene upon it. Witness also examined the bedroom upstairs, and found that thespringmattressof thebed had been on fire. G. M. Main, Herald reporter, deposed to discovering the fire. On going upstairs into the bedroom, they saw a (ire underneath the bed. They turned up the mattrass and saw it on fire in several places. Superintendent Hughes came in and picked up a piece of candle two inches long. The candle was not alight; it was about six inches under the bed. After further evidence, the case was adjourned till 10,30 on Wednesday next.