THE TARRAS FIRE.

Otago Witness, Issue 956, 16 May 1889, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE TARRAS FIRE.

' The letter of J. Mackenzie, whioh we publish elsewhere in this issue, contains charges of so serious a nature against those who conducted 'the inquiry Into' &c Tarfas fire, whioh occurred on April 22 of last year, that the matter cannot rest where it is. We may say that we'havemofc had an opportunity of verifying the statements made by our correspondent as to- t&? circumstances under

which the, fire occurred; bub even 1 on the supposition j that he was. :thei guilty party, .fine manner.- of. the inquiry "and the ' liesult ' arrived at seem to have been at variance with the usual course of- pro- | '.(Jedure, 1 if not with common fairness. ! He alleges that he has been treated as a person ' accused without being afforded an opportunity of defence, and if bis statement" "as to the reiaSdons of' the 'prosecuting par t!ies, the police, and the jury, be correot, there seems ground for his complaint. As these qhkrges} have been openly made, it is' now iufperatiye Sbhat there should be an answer 'co [them. It is 'matter foi grave surprise that 'the > inquiry sought ,' for , by a petition .'jbjafiked^ up.by 289 electors was not granted . bj,tUe'<Gavernment, because it §eemstous, that the wording of the verdict alone with its rider would, have justified an inquiry. So direct a finding bf the- jury as that grave "suspicion rested upon Mackenzie and his 'hired man, even though it were- conveyed 'by a rider, ' would have justified 1 the police, in. immediately making a direct criminal charge. The rider jri question, how- 1 ,ever, appears, to have been, 4p'cortjorated' .'with the verdict, \Ve have; heard, of, riders jwliere Wanie was imputed, to persons,, who ■had been 'guilty of neglect but we must confess we;; never before, hfeard of a rider which imputed .partici-. 'pation in' -a- criminali •. off ene'e j without s6me steps being afterwards ' taken to hkve'the 1 charge 'investigate'di;, Th'ereforei itTse'eVc-s to us 'that if , the I 'evidence 'was so Mrong as to lead thVjury'to-'grSvely suspect' the pdlicß - should 'hsve, f6H6wea itl tip;' and if "not,- the' public; through 4ts representative, the Minister, should know the .reason tyhy. ' Leaving 'out; of cbnsideration! alt6^eth ii ce < r'any part'of ■ Mackenzie's statement! vtittti mi^ht tie 7 6pqn f r tt) th'e^'^iiicibnof^re!.-; judic?, sV'have in; kyis£ thdt' tne'.ver^iq^ ,a|pne rks it jstandjs ( rorni > tM t ',subject"pi * an' inflinry— t)^, k tp. &g H Mbfthej"the;ive,rdict wa^no^lJuaTOq, by the, ' ; e\[iJeace).Qri the police .hare nsg^ctedj their dntV; .: .Mr, Mackenzie haa-.eYe"fy rjgjit to 'jrfstsfc that the inquiry he asks |or:shonld' be. to 6t o6 longer delayed; • -'■'• 7 « ' ''-• f