ALLEGED ARSON AT RANGIRIRI.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVII, Issue 4357, 2 August 1871, Page 2

ALLEGED ARSON AT RANGIRIRI.

About a week ago we became aware that toe particulars of a case of what the police bettered to be arson, were being investigated by them. At that time we refrained from noticing the matter, not wishing to impede the progress of the inquiry by giving any undue publicity to particulars which might have a bearing on the case. However, Detective Jeffery returned to town yesterday after making a series of inquiries into the matter, and the following are a few of the circumstances upon which the charge is supposed to bo founded : — A man named James Leonard was the owner of a hotel at Rangiriri, Waikato, which hotel, stock, and furniture were insured in the Victoria Insurance Company for £160. It is said that a license to this house was not granted at the last Licensing Court, and that on the morning of the I lth June the hotel was burned to the ground. Leonard alleged, when he came to Mercer afterwards, that he had lost ererything, — bedding, letters, bills, I 0 Us, and even a peculiar riding-whip he had brought from Victoria with him. At tirst there had been no apparent cause to suspect that the fire was other than accidental, and the company which had covered the risk promptly met the claim by paying the insurance money. Some time afterwards an allegation reached the ears of the insurance agent to the effect that Leonard had some time previous to the fire conveyed certain articles down the river, and up the Mangatawhiri Creek, whence they were removed to Otahuhu. The police were communicated with, and Detective Jeffery was deputed to make the inquiry. Leonard was at this time living at Otahuhu, and, after a little preliminary investigation there, the detective felt himself justified in laying an information to obtain a search warrant. He compared the articles found in Leonard's house at Otahuhu with the list of articles furnished by the insurance company, and. the result; was that Leonard was arrested,, and brought before Mr, Logan, J.P., and by him remanded to the Auckland Police Court on Friday next. In the interval, Jeffery has been up in the Rangiriri district making inquiries to ascertain what witnesses would be required or .could be got. We believe the police will not be able to have the witnesses in attendance on Friday morning, and that a remand for a few days will probably be asked for.

The question is being agitated among the farmers of the Southern States, whether steam is preferable to mule power for ploughing. A company is being organised in Texas for conveying goods over the " dirt roada," in level parts of the State, by steam traction engines*