Waipawa.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 6127, 20 April 1891, Page 2

Waipawa.

[OWIT OOBBESPONDENT.J

There was a slight error in my account of the fire at Mr. G. W. Williamson's residence, written in haste while it was still burning. It appears that Mrs.. Williamson heard a roaring noise m the interior of the wall of the kitchen, accompanied with smoke- She roused her husband, and they concluded that it was fire. They poured buckets of water on the floor, and threw it on the outside, but without effect. iMr. Williamson then went, for Mr. W.- H. Sebley, who lived opposite, who, after: examining the place, advised breaking through the lining so, that they could get more readily at the file, no flames being visible. This he did, and immediately the air fanned

the flames, and the whole place was: in a blaze. Mr Sebley then ran down town to ring the firebell, which he did most vigorously. 1 have a theory us to the origin after carefully examining the chimney and fireplace. The latter contains that dan r_ous thing known as a "colonial oven," id was used about 8 pm. the previous nigh o warm some milk, The hearth is of very or concrete, much broken at the ends, ai: at the end nearest the fire it formed a ho where tbe woodwork was joined .to tht orickwork, and in the latter at the part w„,re the hearth had decayed was a hole tbr; .igh which both fire and smoke have passed v ,>n the wood-work. My theory is that an euaer has f tllen from the top of the oven into the cori.er of the fender which, by the way, was longer than the fireplace, and lay there smouldering, until the draught fanned it into a flame, which fired the woodwork. ilthough like most chimneys, this h,s been scamped and plenty of holes show moke has issued through them at sometime or other within the wall, it has not been of late, as shown by the plastered state of the inside. I am also glad to learn that the organ had been removed iuto the school for some temporary purpose and so escaped. . Everybody sympathises with Mr Williamson's loss, and I understand there will be no inquest, unless the Education Board wishes it, since the Insurance Company are quite satisfied, and will pay oyer the money.. •,.,'' There is going to be a big fight, I fancy, over the School Committee election, although at present only one person has been nominated. Of course, to-day will tell. I venture to,say that the nominations will be found in the following list of names talked about:—Messrs Eccles, Collett, Ellison, Mogridge, McDougall, White, Abrahams, Nash, Gilmour, Ilemingsen, Annand, B. B. Johnson, John Mildon. Should all be insluded in the list, it would be possible to name the new committee. At Waipukurau, too, there is to be a hard struggle. . Among those to be nominated ire Messrs D. Gollan, Jameson, Niveu, Vaughan, aiid Knipe. I expect every j'ossible vote will be polled, as considerable ' nterests are involved. We had a sooond harvest thanksgiving at 3t. Peter's Church yesterday, when the Efcev. J. C. Tiicoles preached "from second Dorinthians, 9o ii.v., in the course of which ie twice quoted Pr fessor Archibald. A meetinj of ladies was hold at Waimkurau on Mday evening, when it was lecided to ge. up a social on 29th April, in lid of a fund for the erection of a public ibrary and reading-room For some years iremises were rented far the purpose, but ,wiug to the heavy expense, the Committte vere unable to spare funds for hooks, and nd for some mouths past it has been closed nd the books put in storage. Now that he ladies are taking the_ matter in hand, here can be,no doubt of its ultimate suc- - Bas It. was decided that they would take lie management of the social, however, and jemselves provide the refreshments. Mrs aimer is the hon. seoretary, and Mrs W. Smith, treasurer ; Mrs Gow's duties are > attend to the decorative department, and [rs Birrie the vocal part of the programme. There was no sitting of the Native Land ourt on Saturday, consequently the natives ere on the stroet all day. If I am correctly formed this has resulted from a derm in at km to go as iuhy hs possible into ; e whole of the evidenoe, entirely ign, riii" at given before Judge Yon Stunner, conqueutly you a c not lively to have the dtriftout be; : o.e tW spring. The licensing (.'lections ;nid local option tils in IN oraewood a.id ''oodville districts no been fixed for the ,':b and 7th Mat : pectively. At the first -named there will a bitter fight, and possibly the prohibition rty may win, as they ai. very strong in at totality. The YV< o'. ilia di.-trict is a, culinr one, as, although t'lere are polling ices at lleretauugit, Victoria, and Kutnei, there is only one bote:, which is located the latter piace, and for several years the ramittee has also been elected from there." lis time, as there will be a poll in any ie, it may cause an alteration, especially my interest is taken in local option. To r thinking there was more -Steaded by.

the passing, of the Licensing Committees Eleotion Act, 1889, than was openly expressed at the time, as witness what has. occurred at Sydenham and other places.