INCENDIARISM.

Auckland Star, Volume XII, Issue 3540, 10 December 1881, Page 2

INCENDIARISM.

AN ARREST ON SUSPICION,

Within four or five hours on the night of Thursday and the morning of Friday last, no fewer than five fires broke out in Newton and the vicinity of that populous suburb. The destruction of Mr Matthews's rope-walk proved only to be the first of a series of attempts at incendiarism, the circumstances attending which point that the outrages were perpetrated by some person of aberrated reason. Citizen* had scarcely returned from the fireatthe rope-walk, when the clanging of the bells announced that tbe fire demon was again at work. In this instance a collection of stables and outbuilding?, at the rear of Walker's, butcher's shop, in Howe-street, was destroyed, Fortunately tha shed contained nothing of value, and tbe flames were prevented from spreading to the main building. At about three o'clock in the morning a baker named McDonald, while proceeding to his work, perceived flames in the storo in course of erection for Mr Stevenson, on Newton Ko.id, on thfl site of the edifice burned some weeks ago. Tbe fire bad broken out near the back enhance, there being evidence that a cornsack had bee,n lighted. Mr Donald speedily summoned Mr Stevenson, and the flames were extinguished without difficulty. The damage is almost entirely confined to the flooring. About twenty .minutes after thie, Mr J. W. White, itorekoepor, of Karangahape Road, was awakened by the fierce barking of his dog. lie subsequently heard footsteps, and on looking out saw a nun going towards Walker's. Shortly after five o'clock, however, ho was awakened by Mr Collins, a milkman, who was then drawing water from a well and extinguishing a fire in a small open shed abutting on the building. The firs had been caused by a lighted sack similar to that at Mr Stevenson's, and apparently tatcen from Mr Stovetson's premises. The fifth attempt was made at Morningsidr, in a store occupied by Mr Dedman. This storo is the property of a Mr Page^ who resides in the adjoining house. At about 4 o'clock Mrs Page observed, a glare, and called her son, who, on going outside, found the water-closet of Dodman's store nearly burnt down. Mr Dedman came to bii msistance, and between them they put out the fire. This latter fire might possibly have arisen by hot ashes being placed in t;be closet, but the others were evidently intentional. The fact, however, that no kerosene or other dangerous inflammable matter had been used would appear to indicate th»t there was no set purpose. Thii morning Detectives Jeffrey and Brennan arrested a' man named John James Brock, on suspicion of setting tire to Stevenson's store. Brock, who is an eMerley man, appears to be suffering from the ot a heavy drinking bout. He was brought before the Resident Magistrate and remanded for eight days.