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Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 81, 3 April 1908, Page 5

Before proceeafngs commenced at~th_ Onehunga Assessment Court-this morningMr. H. W. Northcroft, the presiding mag? istrate, said that he had received "two anonymous letters in connection with, the present proceedings. The letters were* sent the day before yesterday, and whoever sent them evidently intended them to try and influence his judgment; but nothing would influence him more against them than such a proceeding. It was a most blackguardly thing phd was altogether against British justice, and he hoped that such a thing would' never occur again. He would hand the letters to. Sergeant Rogers and ask him to endeavour to find out their author by tha handwriting.

The residence of Mr.. Charles Sinclair, near' Beechworth ("Victoria), was burnt to the ground on March'2s, and his charred remains were lying in the ruins to-day. Deceased was well connected in the Old Country, but recently his remittances were stopped, and the man became an old-age pensioner. He was seen |in the evening before going home, in,an i intoxicated state. It is assumed that he fell asleep and left a candle burning, Which set fire to his clothes.