CHRISTCHURCH.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 654, 19 March 1879, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH.

This Day. A fire broke out on Monday night in Schwartz's, tobacconist shop, High Street, near the White Hart Hotel. Smoke was noticed coming out between the shutters at about a quarter past 10, and an alarm was given. A tire tank was nearly opposite the shop, and by means of buckets passed along the line, n:en quickly put it to use. The shopdoor having boen broken in, it was found that the counter was in names, and burning strongly, while the shop was full of smoke. Buckets of water kept the fire under until the arrival of a hand engine, which quickly settled the matter. The counter was on tire in three places. The brothers Schwartz were arrested on a charge of incendiarism. The stock turns out to be heavily insured as follows : Standard, £500 ; Translantic, £500. The two brothers were lately partners, but dissolved a short time ago. On farther examination, it was discovered that the

shop was filled with dummy tobacco and cigar boxes. Want of ventilation alone prevented the fire assuming seiious proproportions before it was discovered. Four distinct fires were lit in different parts of the shop. This is the thirteenth fire that his occurred in CHristchureh during twelve weeks, four of them happening within 7 days. At the R.M.'s Court, this morning, one of the brothers Schwartz was discharged, but the other, Isidore, was remanded on a charge of arson, bail being allowed himself in £300, and two sureties of £150 each. Constable Bashford has been fined £1 for disrespect to Colonel Brett. The outcome has caused some surprise, but the enquiry lias been kept private, so that particulars have not been made public. j The takings at the gates at the Kai- | tangata Carnival yesterday amounted to ! £400. Takings at shows on ground, £97 ; sale of booths, £70 ; theatre takings, £100 ; concert, £200. These amounts added to what has been collected brings up the total to £1000 A procession from the theatre to Hagley Park yesterday, marched through the street which was one dense mass of people, with country carts blocking up the intersections of the streets along the line of route. As a show procession it was the grandest of its kind ever seen in New Zealand.