SUPPOSED INCENDIARISM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13780, 19 December 1906, Page 5

SUPPOSED INCENDIARISM.

(Fsoii Ouu Owk Correspondent.)

OPHIR, December 18. What appears to be undoubtedly the work of an incendiary was discovered hero at an early hour yesterday morning. Mr Uryati Elannery has, at the back of bis hotel premises, a paddock in which are two straw stacks in closo proximity to his wool and shearing shed. At the end oE last week shearing operations commcnccd, and yesterday tho wool of two days' shearing was in the shod, while in a shed and yawl- adjoining woro close upon 300 sheep. A chaft'cutter is a.lso in the building. At 6.45 yesterday some shearers found one of the stacks on fire, but fortunately the outbreak had been discovered in ils initial stage, and the fire was put out wir limit great, difficulty. A search a.s to the origin of the outbreak revealed the fact that a iitick of phosphorous had been plated in the stack and lightly covered with straw. Yesterday was an oxti'aoixii narilv hot; day, oven early in the morning, and' the phosphorus was not long in drying and igniting, with the result desoribed. II is fortunate that the outbreak was discovered early, otherwise Mr Elannery may have been the loser of close on £500. 'iho matter is in the hands of the police.