CHARGE OF ARSON AND MURDER AT WANGANUI.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 1112, 5 August 1871, Page 2

CHARGE OF ARSON AND MURDER AT WANGANUI.

We have before referred to the burning of the Caledonian Hotel at Wangaehu, on the night of the 16th July. Five persons were sleeping in the house at the time, four of whom escaped with difficulty, whilst the fifth met his death in the flames. An inquest was held when a verdict of " accidental death" was returned. Since then suspicion having rested on the landlord, that the fire was not the result of accident, John McKenzie McDonald has been arrested on the double charge of arson and murder. The case was going on at our latest dates from Wauganui, and the evidence adduced was sufficient, we think, for the presiding justices to commit McDonald for trial . Winter Evening Entertainment. — The entertainment that was to have been given on Monday next, is postponed until Monday, the 14th instant. The Members of the General Assembly will leave here for Wellington in the colonial steamer ' Luna,' which may be expected on Thursday next. Puriri Piles. — We notice in our advertising columns that tenders are called for the supply of puriri piles, to "be delivered at the VVaitara. We believe they are for the General Government, and are to be used in connection with the building of a lighthouse at Wellington. The Armed Constabulary Band will perform on Mount Eliot this afternoon, at 3 p.m., (weather permitting). The following is to be the programme : — March, " Die wacht am Rheim ;'' Selection, " Lucrezia Borgia ;" Valse, " Kathleen Mavourneen ;" Quadrille ; Polka, " Eclipse;'' Galop, " Tommy Dodd ;" " God save the Queen." Road Board Meetings. — The general meeting of the ratepayers of the Hua (20th) Road District for the purpose of voting a rate, will be held in the Taranaki Institute this day, at 3 p.m ; the Henni (2nd) District, at the same place, on Tuesday next, at 3 p.m. The Bell (Ist) District, will hold their meeting on Tuesday next, at the Bell Block sohool-room, at 3 p.m. An Opportunity to Ship Stock for Auckland. — Messrs. Webster Brothers notify that shonld sufficient inducement offer for the conveyance of sheep to Auckland, that the ' Taranaki will make an intermediate trip to the Manukau, returning here again on the l()th instant. This opportunity of sending stock to Auckland, whilst prices there are ruling high, slionld not be lost, therefore application for freight should be sent in to the agents before Monday next. A Libel on New Plymouth. — The Wanganui Chronicle says — " Some years ago Taranaki became famous or infamous for house burning, so much so that the Insurance Companies declined to do farther business in it, or something nearly so. Since that time, there has not been a fire in Taranaki ! Comment is unnecessary." We are not aware that Taranaki ever became tc infamous for house burning," but evidently Wanganui is becoming so, and the next thing we may expect to hear is that the Insurance Companies have considered it necessary to retire their ngencies from that town, as they did here a few years since, but with the determination never to recommence business in that place again. New Zealand Medals. — We see by our files of Auckland papers that a supply of New Zealand war medals for Chelsea pensioners and others, has been received from the War Office by Mr. H. C. Lewis, A.G.G., who states they will be distributed at his office in Auckland. Men residing at out-districts can have their medals forwarded by post on making a written application to him to that effect, enclosing their regimental nnmber. Departure of the Governor from Auckland. His Excellency the Governor and Lady Bowen took their departure in the Government steamer ' Luna,' which sailed from Onehnnga on the Ist Angnst. Nearly two thousand citizens assembled at the Government House to do honor to the occasion, and joined with the Volunteers in the ceremony of leave-taking. The A.C. to learn the Maori Language. — A Wanganui paper tells us that the officers of the Armed Constabulary in the North Island have been officially directed to " learn the Maori langnage." According to some accounts (says the Wellington Evening Post) the injunction is being carried out industriously on the East Coast, the preceptors being of the gentler sex, whose capacity for instruction in the native language is said to far exceed that of lexicons or grammars. What New Zealand Pays to Adelaide. — According to statistics given in an Adelaide paper of the 27th May, Now Zealand has imported this season from South Australia as follows : — Flour, 275 tons, valued at £2,350; wheat, 53,096 bushels,_valned at £12,761 ; total value, £15,111. The above figuresT-eloto to a period up to 15th April. Casting a Fire Bell in Wellington. — A fire bell for the Wellington Fire Brigade has been case at the Lion Foundry. The capabilities of local indnstry are being put to a test more severe than has, we believe, been pntupon any foundry in New Zealand before.