SUSPICIOUS FIRE.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2927, 12 August 1882, Page 3

SUSPICIOUS FIRE.

About 4.30 this morning, the con. stable on duty in the Main South Boad, noticing an appearance ol fire in the premises of Mr Lyle, . watchmaker, and having immediately obtained the assistance of Mr Ellis, who lives in close proximity to the shop, the two succeeded in bursting open the door, after a few minutes, and extinguishing the fire without alarming the neighborhood or arousing the Fire Brigade. Greatcreditisduetotbo pairfor their exertions, whereby an extensive fire must inevitably have occurred. Messrs Kelly and Fraser, and Buie and Badcliffe’s shops must have certainly been sacrificed had the fire not been so promptly extinguished. On examination it was found that ingress to the premises bad been obtained by _ the window, and that the fire bad origin* ated under the counter. Mr Lyle had a policy of insurance on the stock, In the Standard, for £420. _ The police took possession of the premises, and Mr Tate, the local insurance agon*, engaged the services of Messrs Bower and Shappere to estimate the amount of damage done, and an inventory of the Stock is now being taken. A good deal of it looks seriously damaged, but very little is totally destroyed. The police are of opinionjthat the fire was caused by wilful act and they are investigating the matter.