AUCKLAND.

Colonist, Volume V, Issue 468, 18 April 1862, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

(From ihe Auclclander.).

THE LATE FIRES,

We read with some degree of alarm a report from Captain Daldy, the superintendent of the Fire Brigade, to the New Zealand Insurance Company in the following terms :-—

' I report for the information of the Directors that last night two deliberate attempts were made to fire this town, and two of the fires on Sunday night last cannot be satisfactorily accounted for.'

We are informed that a meeting of the Directors of the Local Institutions took place, at which the agents of the other Insurance Companies attended; and that it was agreed that four or more persons should be employed as night watchmen for the prevention and discovery of fires, the expense to be defrayed by the various Insurance Companies; also that a representation was made to the Provincial Government on the subject.

We are glad to see the subject taken up with so much zeal. It is barely possible that all the fires which have broken out within the last eight days could have originated accidentally ; but an intention of firing the town, should it any where exist, is a matter of deep concern, and would demand the utmost vigilance. We observe that inquests are to be held at the desire of the parties in whose premises the last two fires were discovered. We shall wait for the verdicts with some anxiety.

Since the above was written we are exceedingly glad to learn from the most reliable information, that the evidence given at the inquests on the late fires, not only removed all suspicion of an attempt to fire the town, but in a very great degree, also to remove the suspicion of any incendiary intention. (From the New Zealander.) Diggers.—From Otago, via Coromandel, there has been quite an influx of miners to our northern diggings, upwards of two hundred having arrived by five small vessels, with the intelligence of many more on the way, and others to follow, —larger ships taking the berth for which the musquito fleet has cleared the way. Whalers.—The New Bedford squadron of whalers took their departure for the fisheries on Thursday afternoon, and, but for some desertions among their seamen, greatly satisfied with their visit, and with a high appreciation of the mercantile and maritime facilities of the port. Assaulting the Police.—Henry Blackman, John Key, and William Head, two seamen and one marine of the Fawn, were charged before Mr. Beckman, R.M., with assaulting the police in the execution of their duty. A variety of savage assaults were proved against them, and they were sentenced—Blackman to 4 months' imprisonment, Key to 62 days'; and Head to 30 days' imprisonment.