FIRE AT WANGANUI.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 2293, 31 March 1875, Page 2

FIRE AT WANGANUI.

Jv T ndditiou to the particulars that have •cached us by telegraph we take the followng from the IVdtiganui Herald : — The fire broke out at about 4 a.m. on Thursday, the 25th insl., in a building occupied by Mr. Thomas Anslow, a draper, and by the time it was discovered it bad too firm a hold to save any of the buildings adjoining, and Anderson's, Loftus, Bain, Anslow, Samuels, Barr, and Hogg's buildings were destroyed. Fortunately, the breeze which sprung up from the west did not blow at the time, for then the fire would have spread to the other bide of the Avenue. It appears that a suspiciou having been attached to Mr. Anslow, lie was arrested and brought before the Magistrate on the same day on a charge of arson, when the following evidence was taken : — Sergeant lteid sworn, deposed — From information received I arrested prisoner at six o'clock this morning on suspicion of having set fire to his premises. I heard Mr. Kobinson, Fire Inspector, ask the prisoner to inform him how the fire originated. This was in the bar of the Provincial Hotel. Prisoner said — " Come this way, and I will tell you about it." They and myself went into a small room of the bar. Prisoner said, " Sit down, and I will tell you all about how the fire originated," or words to that effect. We accordingly sat down. Prisoner said that he had been taking medicine this morning, and in reaching over he capsized a kerosene lamp with his arm on a flax bed. He then said that he had not time to put on his clothes, but that he threw his trousers and some other things down stairs, at the same time giving the alarm of fire to Mr. Bain. He said, " Mr. Bain, Mr. Baiu, I have capsized a kerosene lamp. Fire V Mr. Robinson then asked him if he had his stock insured. He said he had not. Mr. Eobiuson then said — "You will be a pretty heavy loser by it. He said—" No ; his stock belonged to his creditors, and that he would not have to pay about £500 which, he owed them." After I heard him make use of that statement I arrested him on suspicion. When I arrested him he was dressed externally as he is now, he also had on a white bclltopper. I did not make any examination of his underclothing. He said he threw down other articles, and two boxes, one of them containing money. He said he put them out of the back door. He said there were £56 in the box. He said there were two sovereigns, £5 in half sovereigns, and the remainder in notes. I found traces of the money in the place. I found two sovereigns and, I think, about six half sovereigns. I can produce the money found when required. They were hot and burnt when I picked them up. I brought them out of the flames. Mr. Robinson and I did not meet at the Provincial Hotel by arrangement. Mr. Robinson was not instructed by me to put the question. He said as Fire inspector it was his duty to do so. After prisoner was arrested he told me he wanted some socks and a pair of drapers. I told him I would get them. At the time he asked me for the socks be said he had no waistcoat. I think he said that, but lam not positive. J. W. Kobinson, sworn, deposed — I am Cuptain of the Fire Brigade, and Fire Inspector in Wanganui, and reside in Victoria Avenue. I know prisoner. He is a draper in Victoria Avenue. I know the place which was burnt down this morning. I was alarmed. I know from my own' knowledge that the place was burnt down. On entering his shop I saw the prisoner behind the counter, on the left-hand side. I also saw the fire at the back. Ijriw it through a back-room door. The fire at that time was confined solely to his premises. I went to the rear of the building to see the nature of the fire. The premises were ablaze right to the roof before the front shop was on fire at all. Mr. Anslow's premises were burnt down. Mi*. Anslow told me that he slept upstairs. He told me this after the greatest danger was over, when, as was my duty, I tried to find out the origin of the fire. Some time afterwards I met the prisoner. I met him in Broughton's Hotel, in the bar. The hotel is. called the Provincial. I said to him, "I want to know the origin of this fire." I asked him whether he was insured. He said "No." I said "You will be a heavy loser." He said Yes, but that it would save him betweeu J&1OO and £500, which he would have to pay to his creditors. Sergeant Eeid then asked him whether he knew him, he not being in uniform. I think he answered No, but am not certain. He might have said " you belong to the police," but I am not certain. Sergeant Eeid then arrested him. The description prisoner gave of the way in which the fire originated would be as I found it. The fire could not have originated in the shop. I think he was dressed all but his coat. I don't know what he meant by saying he would save £AOO or £500 which he would have to pay to his creditors. It was likely to arouse suspicion. I did not attach a definite meaning. He told me he was suffering great pain at the time he knocked over the lamp. He said that he felt giddy and faint when he arose. I put to him the usual questions, and he answered readily. James Bain, being sworn, deposed : lam a baker, residing in Victoria Avenue. I know the prisoner. His place of business was next to my place of business. I was this morning aroused by my wife. I heard a noise, but hardly made out what it was at the time. The noise came from the premises occupied by the prisoner. I jumped out of bed and rushed downstairs. I did not take time to dress myself. Before going downstairs I heard the prisoner call out, " Bain ! Fire !" and something about a kerosene lamp. I then rushed to the pump, to try and get some water. I then went to prisoner's back door, and saw the flames coming out of the window at the landing on the top of the stairs. I then thought it was useless to try and save the building, and I went back to my bed-room to get some clothes and save some money. I have no distinct recollectiou of seeing prisoner before goiug back, but I heard his voice. Before goiug back for my clothes I opened the door, or it was open, and looked up the stairs and saw that it was all in a blaze. I cannot say whether I saw anyone on the stairs. I did notseo prisoner to be sure of since yesterday eveuing until I saw him with Sergeant lleid this morning. lam under the impression I saw him this morning. I think he was in his own house at the time he called out that the house was on fire. The fire originated in his premises. , The prisoner was remanded for eight days, bail being allowed, prisoner in £100 und one surety of £100.

Tun King of the Aik and Wizard Jacobs.— A treat is in store for the public. By advertisement in another column it will be > seen that these Xamous artists will make their first appearance here on Monday next, and will repeat their performance the two following evenings. The Wairarapa papers say: — "Of Airec, King of the Air, those who have seen him say that his feats require to be seen to be believed, and then one can scarcely believe them they am so marvellous. No gymnast in either this or tho neighboring Colonies can be compared to him. Professor Valentiue Jacobs is a son of the Professor Jacobs, and his particular line is magic and vcntriloquibiiv. In both of thews arts he is a great success. We can with confidence recommend one and all to go to the entertainment this evening, feeling certain that all who do go will be amused and gratified. Though we have so many troupes from time to time visiting this district, it is but rarely that a iirst class entertainment is olfered to us. Tho present one we know to be deoidediy first-class, and we trust that the Wairarapa will encourage real ability and talent by a liberal patronage."