Incendiarism.

New Zealand Police Gazette, Volume I, Issue 10, 5 November 1877, Page 63

Incendiarism.

At 7 p.m. on the 241 h ultimo, a house situate at the corner of Dixon Street and Maori Row, Wellington, the property of John Quin, value about £2OO, was discovered by the police on fire, which was extinguished before much damage was done. The fire originated in a room used by Morton Q.uin as an office, and papers,, letters, &c., found burning therein were saturated with kerosene oil. The floor, on which kerosene had been thrown, had just caught fire when discovered. The house was insured for £4OO. Suspicion attached to Morton Quin, a son of John Quin, a native of New Zealand, a clerk, twenty-eight years of age, 5 feet 10 inches high, medium build, dark complexion, dark brown or black hair, dark beard, whiskers, and moustache ; wore dark tweel suit and'soft hat.

On the evening of the 27th ultimo an attempt was made, to burn an unoccupied house at Woodend, Canterbury District, the property of William Ant ell, by placing gorse under the house and setting it on fire, but the fire was soon after discovered and extinguished before much 1 damage was done.

At about 1 a.ra. on the 25th ultimo, a building used as barn and stable containing agricultural machinery, harness, &c., situate at Murray’s Flat, near Waitahuna, Otago District, the property of Sinclair Williamson, was discovered on fire, by which it and all it contained, except some harness, were destroyed. At an inquest held at Havelock, on the 27th ultimo, to inquire as to the cause of the origin of the fire, the following verdict was returned : —“That the barn and stable were wilfully set fire to by some person or persons unknown.” The property destroyed was insured in excess of its value.

At 3 p.m. on the 28th ultimo, a fire was wilfully lit on the reserve at Governor’s Bay, Canterbury District, near the dwelling of Thomas Henry Potts, by which a number of trees and shrubs, his property, value £2O, were destroyed. Suspicion attached to two boys, about fourteen years of age, dressed, in dark tweed suits and wideawake hats, who were seen running from the direction of the fire soon after it was lit. Mr. Potts offers £5 reward on conviction of the offender or offenders.