THE PAPAKURA TRAGEDY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9067, 30 May 1888, Page 5

THE PAPAKURA TRAGEDY.

Mr. Stefhen Philip de Cartaret, farmer, Papakura Valley, called at the Police Station yesterday morning, and gave to Sergeant Ellison the following particulars of the late tragedy at Papakura Valley, connected with the burning of Mr. de Cartaret's stable, and the finding of human remains in the debris. Ho states that his stable, hay loft, and cart shed were destroyed by firo on Saturday, the 26th instant, between two and three o'clock in the morning. The stable consisted of two stalls, two loose boxes, a chaff room, and a hay loft, with a lean-to behind, which was used as a cart shed. The building was insured in the South British Office for £40, and was valued at £100. There were three horses in the stable, which were got out, but a quantity of harness, two saddles, a chaff-cutter, valued at £5, an express waggon, twenty busbels of oats, and about a ton and a half of oaten hay, stable forks, and sundry other appliances, were destroyed. A spring cart and buggy in tho shed were saved, but the express wagon was behind them, and could not be got out. There was no insurance except the £40 on tho building. On looking over the debris on Monday afternoon Mr. de Carteret found some human remains, consisting of a skull and other bones, all of which were very much charred. The bones of one foot and a leg appeared to have preserved their form, but in endeavouring to lift any of them they fell to pieces. Mr. de Carteret covered the bones up, and came on to town to report to the police. Mr. de Carteret says he thinks some person must have gone into the hay-loft to sleep, and accidentally caused the fire. Ho himself had not been in the loft since Monday, the 21st, when he was there cutting chaff. He further states he knows of no one who would be likely to go into the loft to sleep. He states the fire burned very fiercely, and the embers remained hot for a long time, so that any human being in them would be reduced to cinders. Mr. de Carteret was asleep when the fire took place. He thinks it was the glare on his bedroom window that awoke him. Pulling on a pair of trousers he immediately ran out, and found the whole of the stable roof in flames. He at once got out the horses, with one of which he had some trouble, owing to the animal being tied in a stall and much frightened. The others were in the loose boxes, and were easily got out. The fire having been at first confined to the roof and upper part of the building, appears to confirm the belief that it was caused by some trespasser in the hayloft, who lost his life in the flames. An inquest will in all probability be held into the matter.