INCENDIARISM AT AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5563, 27 January 1879, Page 2

INCENDIARISM AT AUCKLAND.

(PER PRESS AGENCY). Auckland, Saturday

The Star publishes the following additional particulars of incendiarism : —There were in all fires on three different farms, each within some distance of each other, and the time at which they occurred proved conclusively that they were all caused by one and the same person. The first conflagration took place on the farm of Charles Pratt, about half a mile from the Ilaglan Hotel, on the south side of Papatoxtoi. That gentlemau retired to rest at twelve o’clock last night, when there was no sign of fire. At six this morning he was awakened by David Burnside, a neighboring farmer, who informed him that some of his wheat was on fire. He ran down and found two stacks of wheat in flames. The fire had obtained a good hold, and had almost burnt through the grain; there was no chance whatever to save anything. The stacks were valued at £SOO, and were not insured.

The second fire took place about half an hour later on the property of Thomas Rodgers, of Papatoitoi, nearly two miles further on in the direction of Otahuhu. Mr. Gordon, who was in charge of Rodgers’ place, was awakened about five o’clock by a number of Maoris who were harvesting on the farm. He ran down and found seven stacks of wheat and three of oats on fire. The whole of the property was destroyed—the loss being estimated at £IOOO, and the stacks not being insured. Mr. Rodgers is a heavy loser. The third fire was at Taylor’s, about a mile distant from Rodgers. A - neighbor informed Taylor about 5 o’clock that his stack of grass hay was on fire. He immediately proceeded out, and found it had only recently taken fire. There was no chance of saving any of the stack. This, like the others, was not insured. Taylor is a loser to the extent of about £l9O. Immediately on receiving the news of the conflagration Rodgers ' rode off to give information at the police station, and Detective Jeffrey went to Otahuhu. When near Penrose junction he met a man named Pidgett, and from information received he felt justified in arresting him on suspicion of having caused the fires enumerated above. This man was in the hands of the police some time ago, on a charge of placing obstructions on the railway line, and was then fortunate enough to secure an acquittal. He was searched by the detective, and in his pocket was found a quantity of matches and wheat. Inquiries were instituted throughout the district in which the fires occurred, and Pidgett was identified as a man who had made threats against the farmers in the neighborhood to people in Papatoitoi, a week ago. He passed through Papakura last evening in the direction of Otahuhu, and borrowed a match from a blacksmith there.