Incendiarism.

New Zealand Police Gazette, Volume XIII, Issue 5, 27 February 1889, Page 37

Incendiarism.

About 2 o’clock on the morning of the 2fltli ultimo the shop of Alfred Herniman, Victoria Avenue, Eden Terrace, Auckland, was set on fire with rags saturated with kerosene oil on the outside of the building, but the fire was soon after discovered and extinguished, a few boards at the doorstep being onty burned.

About 1 o’clock on the morning of the 29th ultimo the dwelling of Mrs. Keals, widow of the late Richard Reals, corner of St. George’s Bay Road and Russell Lane, Parnell, was set fire to in three different places, and the building almost completely destroyed. Two of the fires were under the front portion of the building, and were extinguished before they did any damage. The back portion of the house was in flames when the fire was discovered. Mrs. Keals had her furniture, which was value for about £I,OOO, insured in the South British Office for £SOO. The house was value for about £1,350, and was insured for that amount by the executors in the estate of Richard Keals. At an inquest held on the 18th instant to inquire as to the cause of the origin of the fire, a verdict of incendiarism was returned against some person unknown.