Incendiarism.

New Zealand Police Gazette, Volume XI, Issue 7, 30 March 1887, Page 59

Incendiarism.

About 4 o’clock on the morning of the sth instant an unoccupied house at Beaumont Road, Lawrence, the property of William McNickle, value about £IOO, was discovered on fire, by which it was destroyed. The house was insured in the Norwich Union Office for £IOO, and in the Standard and Northern Offices for £SO each. The fire extended to a carpenter’s shop and a blacksmith’s shop, the property of James Middlemiss, which were also destroyed, and the general store of T. Wilson and Co. damaged to the extent of about £6OO. At an inquest held on the 12th instant, before W. H. Revcll, Esq., Coroner, to inquire as to the cause of the origin of the fire, the following verdict was returned : “ That the house was wilfully set on fire by some person or persons unknown.” The following rider was added to the verdict: “ That so long as property is over-insured, as in the present case, fires will necessarily occur.”

(See Police Gazette, 1887, page 39.)

Burning of Elizabeth Turnbull’s house in Walton’s Boad, Mataura: An inquest was held at Mataura, on the 12tli instant, before Henry McCulloch, Esq., Coroner, to inquire as to the cause of the origin of the fire, when the following verdict was returned: “ That the house in question was destroyed by fire on the 14th February, 1887, but the cause of the fire is unknown.” The fire occurred on the 14th ultimo, and not on the 24th ultimo as previously gazetted.

About 1 o’clock on the morning of the sth instant, at Centre Bush, Southland District, the saddler’s shop and dwelling of Archibald Colquhoun was maliciously set on fire from the outside, by which the building and contents, value about £650, were destroyed. From the rapidity with which the fire spread it is supposed that kerosene oil was thrown on the walls of the building immediately before it was set on fire. The property destroyed was not insured.

On the morning of the 7th instant, at Gisborne, the Albion Club Hotel, containing fifty rooms, and the hotel stable, containing fifty-eight stalls, the property of S. M.

Wilson, were destroyed by fire. The hotel and contents and stable and plant were insured in various offices for about £3,400, which amount it is said was not excessive. Nearly all the stable-plant was saved. At an inquest held to inquire as to the cause of the origin of the fire a verdict of incendiarism was returned against some person or persons unknown.