MANAIA SPECIALS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 6644, 20 October 1888, Page 2

MANAIA SPECIALS.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) October 18. Tlio inquiry into the cause of tho firo on Mr .Tunics Hayes' property on tho Manaia road, to which I referred in my last, resulted in tho jury bringing in iv vordict that thoro was no evidence to show how tho fire occurred. The inquiry lasted four very long dajs. tho Court sitting until 12 p m. on one of tlio days and till after 10 p.m. on another. Thcro wero soveral peculiar features in tho inquiry. Ono was that a witness named J. Briggs (no loss than five members of tlio family of that name appearing as witnesses) stated that Murdo McLean had offered him first £'G and then £10 if he

would e» ear tliafc tlio ilmsli of tlio Lous,

and tho furnishing was as Bworn to by the Hayes' family; iintl, further, that Hayes himself had repented tho offer to him later in tho dn.v, also stating that if tlio amount offered was not onongli he (Hayes) ■would give him (tho w itness Brigg?) a town section at Mnnaia allied at £20. A brother of the witness and ono Herbert Ogden gave ovidonco which certainly bore out tho statement of J. Briggs. The ovidenco caused a groat scnsatioD, particularly on account of Murdo McLean being the same man that cropt up in tho Bryce-Hutehison election petition ease. The' other side mado a feobloattempt to get up a counter chargo. Another witness, a rather interesting looking girl, a Miss Melville, stated that one of the young Briggs had tried to influenco the evidenco sho was to givo. Tho young man on being recalled caused considerable aniusemont by admitt'ng that ho had called upon her " first to sco if she was on," and had opened the conversation by asking her what she was going to eaj when sho went into Court. Anothor feature was the very contradictory evidenco given, some of tho witnesses staling that the rooms wcro match-lined, scrimmed, an 1 papored, andolhors stating just as positively the very reverse. Then after having had three, pretty long days at it tho jury surprised everybody After tho polieo had stated they had no more o\ idenco to call, and the coroner having hinted that thcro nas no evidoncoto comict anyone with tho fire, Mr AVclsh, who appeared for Mr Hayes, said if tho jury wero of the snnio opinion in viow of tho vory longthy ovidence already taken, ho should not call any witnesses. The jury, I say, surprised c\ eryone by, like tho boy in Oliver Twist, " asking for more." It nppoared that there wero one or two points upon which the jury wunted a little further information, and thoy could not understand how any insurance agent could tako a risk of £300 on a building and f urnituro bucli as tlio ovidenco disclosed tho ono destroyed to have been. As it was then nearly 10 p.m., and some time was required to got tlio witnesses required, the injuiry was adjourned. Tho following rider, which v>os added to the verdict, should bo a caution to cvuvless insurance ngonls, viz., "Tho jury further considers that the evidence throughout lias been very conflicting, and they further consider tho property was ovor-insiircd, and showed great negligence on tho part of the iveent accepting (ho risk without fullor inspection ns to the state of the property." Mr J. C. Yorko was the acting coroner, and ho spoke very strongly on the nature of the evidence, etnting that ho should feel it his duty to forward it to tho R.M., calling attention to certain portions of it. Mr Cnplin watched the caso for tho Northern Insurance Company, who held the risk, and Sergeant Bissctt vory ably conducted tho caso for tho police. Apropos of my remarks on tho ability of present Government to deal w ith the land question, tho Unworn, Star, a paper that strongly supports them, says: — "It is reported that tlio appointment of Major Kemp to sit on tho arbitration cases under the West Const Settlements Reserves Act, is very unpopular with tho natives interested, and that they resent adjudications upon their lands by n chiof who, tho hist time they saw him, was leading tho Kupapns against them." So it is. It is this want of consideration and tact in dealing with tho natives which led to the " white horse " demonstration at Parihaka. Tho possession of theso qualities in an eminent degree, in spito of tho many predictions of failuro, enabled tho late Native Minister to transform this Coast from a vast military camp into a peaceful settlement, and by his personal inlluonce w ith both races to inculcate a cordial fcelii.g (hit will comparo favourably with any district in tho colony. Tlio building bought in Patoa by Mr Lewis, of tho Manaia Hotel, has boon orcctcd by him in tho Octogan, and is a very considerable addition to tlio appearanc'o of that part of tho town. Mr Lewis has had a new and very ornamental front added to it, and altogether the appearance of tho building is so much improved that l'atoa residents will find it dillicnlt to bolimo that it originated in (heir little town by tlio rncr. In tho mean timo, it is opened under tlio title of tho Egiuont Roller Skating Itink, and is being well patronised. The well-known and popular firm of Budge- and McC'utchan ha\o dissolved partnership, Mr James McCutclmn contemplating a trip to the Old Coiml i v. Mr A. W. Budgo has been joined in tho business by Mr 11. E. Good, well known in athletic circles. Mr McCutclmn's retiremont from tho business will bo regretted by everyono.ns he was greatly liked, and i|o greater pvafso can bo givon than tq say that tho lato Jinn has always bean looked upon as a really good business firm, and wherever Mr McCutohan may go everyone in Munuiiv \cry hcarlilv wishes him every micccsi, Looking upon tlio change as inevitable, perhaps no moro popular man than Mr Harry Good could have taken Mr McCutchnn'ti plncOi and thero is every reason to hope that the firm of Budge and Good will liavo as many frionds as the late firm of; Budjjo and MoCutulmu,