The Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 1885.

Inangahua Times, Volume IX, Issue 1494, 9 January 1885, Page 2

The Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 1885.

There was a sitting of the Warden's Court yesterday, before Mr Warden Bird, when a number of unopi used alluvial applications were disposed of. There were no cases for hearing. The sitting of the Magistrate's Court followed when a $ number of petty debt cases were dealt t with. The case of Silcock v. Duffy, an action to recover t'3s damages for tresi, pass of sheep, occupied the Court during . the greater part of the day, and resulted in a judgment being given for plantiff for , £5 damages ano costs. The melancholy intelligence readied Reefton yesterday that a miner named ' Hugh Brennan, of Boatman's, had committed suicile there during the previous night. Tht* deceased, it appears, had for 1 some time been engaged about the Wel- ' come battery, and slept in a room adjoining. He was last seen alive at about 6 o'clock on Wednesday evening, and on the following morning on entering the battery house one of the men found the unhappy man suspended by a rope round his neck and fastned to the roof of the battery house. Assistance was immediately at hand and the body was at once , cut down, but life was quite extinct, and death had evidently occurred some hours previously, as the body was quite cold. No motive is known for the deplorable ! act, deceased having been in constant work, though latterly he had complained of rheumatism. He was of a singularly quiet and unoffensive disposition, and a great favorite with all classes. An inquest will probably be held, and the body will be brought to Reefton for interment. The sad affair has created a great sensation at Boatman's, indeed throughout the district, the unhappy man having lived in the district from the earliest days, and being widely known. Mr F. Bird, the newly appointed Resident Magistrate for the Buller and Inangahua judicial district, took his Beat on the local Bench yesterday, for the first time. The list was an unusually long one, but the cases, with one exception were free from complications, and were quickly dealt with. The case of Silcock v. Duffy, however, was oue of some intricacy both in law and fact, and took some hours to unravel. The monotony of the proceedings was, however, occasionally enlivened by a little crossfiring between counsel, and this, and the outside interest taken in the case, helped to keep a tolerably large audience in Court throughout the day. A witness in one of the cases caused a momentary " snigger " amongst the audienct,, which, however was, of oourse, " instantly suppressed" by the master of the ceremonies, otherwise the genial and popular Bamford. The plaintiff in the case in question was asked in cross examination whether a youthful witness for the "other side," was defendant's son, to which he replied, "He is supposed to be." This tickled j the audience immensely, but as the defen- J dant subsequently won the case, he, in j accordance with the well-known adage, joined in the laugh also. Later in the day the same plaintiff entered the box to prove a debt against another party, but it soon becaraee viden t that either his previous witticism, or a too liberal indulgence in something stronger than water, had in the interval undermined his perpendicular, the result being that counsel declined to go on with the ease, and asked for an adjournment, which was granted upon payment of some £2 oj -8 •xpenses to defendant. This cadged defendant No. 2to laugh also. Thei OotKt will sit again this morning, whor|a#'ifor»l cases for the recovery of calls, and involving some knotty law points, will be dealt with. We have ascertained that the account given by us on Wednesday last as to the origin of the Boatman's fire was incorrect in some important particulars. It is only right, however, to add that the information given was gathered from mere heresay and was given for what it was worth. The real facts in suoh oases can only be •lieited at an inquiry, and as this will probably be held, it is unnecessary to now add anything further on the subject. It is notified that the fureral of the late Mr H igh Brennan will move from Williams' Hotel, Reefton, on Saturday (to-morrow) at 3 o'clock. Wo publish in another column "Robin Hood's " announcement on the Dunedin Cup. It may be pointed out that as all " Robin Hood's " events invariably fill up some time before the advertised date, those desiring to invest should lose no time in doing so. Mr P. Salmon, Dawson's Hotel, is the local agent, and is now issuing programmes. Mr Menteath, M.H.R., received the following telegram last evening from Mr Jamei Inland -ii*-, Neleon, re the East and

' West Coast and Nelson railway : " Nelson, January Bth, 1885.— A. A S. Menteath, Esq., M.H.R., Reefton,— Mr Fell and I have arranged with the Christchurch Committee that the railway from Springfield to Belgrove, via Brunnerton and Reefton, be promoted as one scheme. James Sclanders." Shortly after 11 o'clock last night the fire-bell rang out the dread alarm of fire, and immediately after a mass of flame was seeu to issue from the side and roof of an unoccupied building at the corner of Broadway and Bridge-street. The tirebrigade was quickly tin the spot with the hose-reel, but there was some loss of time ! in connecting with the fire-plugs, and 1 y j the time the two hydrants were brought i into play the whole building was wrapped 'In flames, and it seemed as though the adjoining building, bel-intring to Mr J. I. i Aiken, was past saving, but the effectiveness of the water supply was immediately j demonstrated, for in three minutes after i the branches wer turned on the fire was mastered, and ten minutes later the scene was in darkness. The origin of the tire is shrouded in mystery. The building was unoccupied, and locked. Constable" M' Manus was one of the first on the scene, and bursting the door open he found the ceiling of the back room on fire, but how | the fire got there there was nothing to show. The building belonged to Mr M. L.*vy, and up to a week ago had been insured, but Mr Levy refused to renew the policy, the premises being unoccupied, the adjoining premises, belonging to Mr Aiken were als* uninsured, and there was a gap of twenty or thirty yards to the next building. It looks uncommonly like the work of an incendiary. According to the Wellington Vost the Government intend to push on the construction of the North Island Main Trunk railway with something like American rapidity. Not on'y will contracts be let in the ordinary in. inner at both enls of the line, but an effort will be made to enlist the practical assistance of the Native population along the line of route, by laying out special sections all along the railway, which will be offered to them to form In this way.no undue strain will be put on the ordinary labour market, and the Maoris will find useful and profitable employment which will also give them a special interest in the railway.