FIRE NEAR WHIRINAKI. MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 3, Issue 143, 28 August 1895, Page 2

FIRE NEAR WHIRINAKI.

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

A report reached town on Friday that a fire had taken place near Galatea which had completely destroyed a wharc rented from the natives by Messrs Orcnstcin and Rappiport of Rotorua, and used by them as a store. Goods valued at over £2OO ■were in the store at the time, and there ■was no one; living in it, Mr Rappiport having come down to Rotorua to look after the business there during Mr Orenstcin's absence in Auckland. The origin of the lire is unknown, but it. may be stated that though the rent had been paid to the native; who gave possession, and to a second as well who made a claim, a third demand by another native had been refused. It is conjectured that this refusal may have induced the disappointed claimant to set fire to the place. Mr Orenstein also states that he has grounds for suspecting that the place was broken into by the natives before the fire, but he thinks it would be useless to institute enquiries as the expense of doing so would be considerable and the difficulty of tracing the goods great. One of his employees in returning from Whakatane passed by the place on Thursday. The natives had been raking over the embers and ho was shown the remains of one or two watches and the fused mountings of pipes, &c. The store was distant 1| miles from the cam]) at Whirinaki and about 7 miles from Galatea.

August 23rd and 24th, 1895, (Before Lieutenant-Col. Roberts, S.M.) Two minor eases, one for disorderly conduct, and another for beinir drunk while in charge of a horse and vehicle, were disposed of by the imposition of small fines, with costs. Aneta Kereama, a young woman, charged Ngahoa Tekiri with having assaulted hor at To Ngae on July 10 last, by striking her on the eye, causing unconsciousness and necessitating the attention of the doctor. The evidence shewed that the assault had been committed, but Dr Ginders stated that it was not of a vory serious nature. A fine of lilts was imposed with costs 2:is (id. Hoani tu II mil i charged Rangiahua Patcue, NgakawhePauekoti, TitipoPanekoti, and T.uiimkauri Panckoti with assault. This ease commenced at. noon on Friday and was not concluded till the same hour on the following day. The complainant it appeared had discarded his wife, Tuarakauri, and she and her friends, the other three defendants, took possession of his house in his absence ami on his return assaulted and forcibly ejected him. Their defence was that they acted under legal advice. The Bench decided that there was not sufficient evidence against the male defendant, Rangialiua, but fined the female defendants Is eaeii with aggregate costs amounting to £3 9s. Mr Yates acted as interpreter.

J. Fali.ooxa v, Gkoi:i;k Cox.—Claim for £2 12 (id, meals supplied. Verdict for plaintiff with costs.

TUAJIAKAUIU PaXEKOTI V. HoAXE TE llalti'l.- -Claim for £lO or return of two horses. Messrs Yates and Cameron intca--pretcd. The discarded wife in a previous case sued her ex-husband for two horses which she. had acquired in a previous matrimonial arrangement and which lie refused to give up. The hearing occupied the greater part of the day and the evidence was of a most discursive nature. Finally the case was adjourned till the :20th September.

The two remaining eases were adjourned till the next Court-day and the Court rose.