FIRES.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 98, 24 April 1886, Page 5

FIRES.

Me Mitchell, the owner of a carpet factory lately destroyed by flro in Canterbury, is charged with arson, The dwelling-house of Mr Christeneen Ornata, Taranaki, was burned down in the absence of the a * ncr and his family. Insured for £100 in tho Union.

The four-roomed house of Robert Morse, Princes-street, Cambridge, was destroyed by tiro on Ist inst, through tbe ignition of clothes hung before the fire to dry. The furniture was nearly all saved, A 0-roomed house and dairy, the property of James McConachy, situated at Aramore, between Papakura and Waiuku, were burnt down on April 15t. The house and dairy were insured for £100, and the furniture for £50, in the New Zealand ( 'fflce. Ou April 17, a fire took place on the farm of Mr Wm. v\ aters, Papatoitoi, which caused considerable damage. The outbreak took place in certain outbuildings which were sub-let to Mr Eccles, and in which a threshing machine and steam engine were placed. The place was completely burned down and the machinery destroyed. The property was insured for £200 in the New Zealand Office. Rukuhia Cheese Factory, between Hamilton and Ohaupo, was destroyed by fire about one a.m. on 17th inst. The manager's house and contents were also destroyed. There were about JO or 12 tons of cheese in the factory at the' timo. The building, machinery, and cottage wore insured in the National Office for £900. It is not known yet whether the cheese, valued at £600, was insured. About 3 am. on Monday, April 19, an outbreak of tire was discovered in Messrs Kelly Brqalgtable at the rear of their residence JBTSount Eden Road, and within Qfl yrdaof Whisker's smithy. The flames had firm possession of the building before the" alarm was given, and the most that could bo done was to get ont the horses, of which there were severa racing hacks owned by the Mesßrs Kelly, and one named Jack belonging to Mr Whisker. The stable itself was burnt to tho ground, but owing to the exertions of the persons present the fire was prevented from spreading to the neighbouring dwell-ing-houses. , Shortly after 2 a.m. on 17th inst., a fire broke out in a shop in Upper Nelsonstreet, owned by Mr Geo. Wilson, and occupied by the Misses Tyler as dressmakers' workroom. The alarm was given by a lad named Jamea Cosson, and the h ire Brigade, under Superintendent Hughes, was speedily on the spot, nnd a good supply of water being available, tho flames were soon extinguished. Very little of the contents of the burnt building were saved. The Misses Tyler state that they only used a back room on the north side. In this room there was a fireplace, in which a tire was sometimes lighted for preasng purposes, and from the appearan* of the building after the fire, it is evident that the conflagration originated in this room. J.he buUding was insured for £200 in the South British, and Miss Tyler's stock-in-trade for £150 in the Colonial. The damage is estitimated at between £200 and £250. At 3 a.m. on April 20 a slx-roomod house and dairy belonging to Mr Michael Edward McGarry, of Epsom, was burnt to the eround. The property was situated at Epsom, on the Great South Road, fronting the Public Hall and Post-office It was a farm-house, and had lately been in the occupation of a farmer named Ernest, Hill. He shifted out last Thursday, but had not given up possession of the premises. Mr McGarry saw him on that day, and asked him if yhe had cleared everything away. Hill replied that he had not tat said hO would require to make anotter journey, after whioh he would give up the key. mot haWnJoaUedeinee. McGarry is notqmte sure Whether or not any farad; u"> in tho house. Two neighbours Messrs Earnest and Walters, were the first.to dis cover the fire. They made, an attempt to save the building from being tc-tatydes troyed, but it was already w#» » ' flames when they arrived, added to which . there was no means at hand *° B«PP re« the, firo The house and dairy were uuiu» ' tS the ground! a detached kitchen and washi house alone being saved.