Incendiarism.

New Zealand Police Gazette, Volume XI, Issue 6, 16 March 1887, Page 51

Incendiarism.

About 9 p.m. on the 12th ultimo an attempt was made to set fire to a two-roomed weather-board house at Gisborne, the property of G. Dempsey. What appeared to be a tentfly, sprinkled with kerosene oil, was set on fire in one of the rooms near some dry manuka-scrub and a sack of hay, to both of which the fire would have extended had it not been extinguished. William Denis purchased the house from Mr. Dempsey on the 27th August last for £7O, provided the purchase-money was paid before the 27th ultimo, and was liable for a rental of ss. per week until the purchase-money was paid. Denis insured the house for £SO and the furniture for £25 in the North British Office. There was no furniture in the house when the fire was discovered.

Between 7 p.m. on the 23rd and 6 a.m. on the 24th ultimo, at Lower Sliotover, Lake District, a stack of oats, a stack of barley, and a stack of wheat, the property of Alexander Grant, value about £2OO, were destroyed by fire. At an inquest held on the 2Sth ultimo to inquire as to the cause of the fire the following verdict was returned: “ That the stacks were maliciously set fire to by some person or persons unknown to the jury.” The stacks were not insured.