FIRE IN SHORTLAJND-STREET. SUPPOSED INCENDIAEISM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4406, 27 December 1875, Page 3

FIRE IN SHORTLAJND-STREET. SUPPOSED INCENDIAEISM.

A strb occurred early yesterday morning in the back part of Mr. Heslop's premises, ! Shortland-street. In thi» locality several fires have originated, or it might be said to a moral certainty to have been raised, but fortunately the wholeof themhayebeenextinguished before any great extent of damage has been caused. Shortly after 1 o'clock on Sunday morning Sergeant O'Connor was passing a'iong O'Connell-street with a prisoner, when he smelt something burning. He at once rushed to the station, and returned with Detective Jeffery. The fire was soon discovered to be on Mr. Heslop's premises, in Shortland-street, the back entrance to which is from O'Connell-street. Upon the door being broksn open it was found that a lot of cotton waste was on fire, near the stairs. There was a considerable body of fire, and the floor was much burnt, but a few buckets of water removed all danger, and the fire was extinguished without any great difficulty. Mr. Hampton was promptly on the spot, and rendered assistance by supplying several buckets of water. Mr. Heslop's premises were locked up on .Friday night, but unfortunately the backdoor was left unfastened, and it is possible an incendiary got in by this door. The circumstances are of a strongly suspicious chapter, but there was nothing unuaual_ or at aly suspicious in the cotton waste being foan'd there, as lar/;o quantities of it are used Air. Heslop's business in connection with the sewing machines. The fires that have been frequent in the neighbourhood have all been so situated that they could bo approached by the same yard, abutting upon O'Connell-street.