INCEDIAUISM AT PUERUA.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 197, 19 April 1878, Page 5

INCEDIAUISM AT PUERUA.

'$ l • An inquest into the origin of the fire at Mv Alexander .U "Vicar's stack-yard at Puerua oa . Thursday evening was held by Dr Smith, Corouer for fcho district, and a jury, at Mr Rl'Vicrtr'3 house on Wednesday afternoon. Mr Inspector Thomson examined the witnesses, and Soi'geant D:ily was «ls>r> present. The Jury having been sworn and having; examined the E'jene of the fire, the following evidence vvi>.a led : - . Alexander Johnston : I am a settler residing at Puerua. I recollect Thursday last,, the Utti of April. Iv\as on th.it day at home ell day. In tile forenoon I was engaged driving dung ; iv the afcernoon killing a heifer. J do nob recollect seeing any straugers passing on that day. We knocked off work about 5 o'clock ; went home and had tea ; came .out and went to the stable," fed the horses — it was then dark—a nd fiftnv feeding the horses, returned to the house, to.>k off my boots, and sat down on the sofa. I have a dog, he is very watchful, and especially after I kill a beast ; he has a peculiar bark, and I can tell from his bark if there is any person' coming abouc the house. He was not chained on that night ; about 9 o'clock 1 heard the dog bark. ; lie was at .• , that time in front of niy house, looking toward j M 'Vicar's ; I went to the door, aud on opening the door I saw a fire in the direction of M 'Vicar's place, i called out fire, and all the- family, wife' included, camo out before I could ascertain whether the fire proceeded from a. flax bush or Al' View's stack-yard; I do not think I could have seen a person even if oue had been thereat the slack) aid, as my sight is failing; it was a lovely clear night.- I called, the dog in; I- was then satisfied that the stacks were on fire. I went in, put otnny boots, and rim to the stackyard ; from first hearing the do£ bark until I leached the stack -yard 'was between five and six minutes; when 1 came to the stack-yard, they were all on flames ; they were distant about a yard from eacii other, and in two rows, they wero all on tire on the north side ; they soeined to be all. equally ou tire. I bolted over to the •stables, and assisted in removing the harness. From my knowledge of the. (log I am. quite' sure there was some person at ' M' Vicar's stack-yard ■when he barked, as he generally barks when M'Vic-ir is there himself. My' opinion is thai; the fire was not caused by an accident,- as the ■ : stacks were equally on fire when I iirsfcsaw them. 'Thomas Johnston : 1 am the son ot Alexander Johnston, residing at Puerua. I recollect Thursday last, the 11th of April. I was at home. on that day, and. working about the farm ■; my father was also at home. I could see, the. stack-yard. • .belonging to M 'Vicar clearly, from our house; the distance is_ about 400 yards. , .On c Thursday evening my father called,out "fire ;",ifc was about 9 o'clock'/'" I v\as iv ■the i kitcljeu," all the family ' 'wasfln, the kitchen".' 1 il/liekrd-.tn'e' dog bark'; "my went out to. see, if ,any; one:;was coming ; Ke merely opened the door and called out— l s^e,; '-, a fire over at M' Vicar's. 1 was sitoiug in the house, when he billed out I went to the door

tnd looked out ; I saw smoke and the glare of are in the direction of M 'Vicar's stackyard. I .•dipped on my boots and ran first to the'stackyards. I came straight up to the stacks ; I saw che. six stacks all burning on tho north side ; they were all burning ou one sido only ; tho sticks wijre not burning to any great extent. I saw the barn, stable, cornsbed, and buggy-shed, about five ov six feet off tho stacks, none of them were on fire when 1 first came. I ' ran direct to SlVicar's house, about 70 yards from the stacks. AI 1 Vicar was undressing when 1 roused nun ; he came running out and said we must get the things out of the sheds and stable ; we both ran up, and took the harness out of tho stable ; my father had then arrived. We made no attempt to save the stacks, but only the barn and stables; about half an hour after that time a number of the neighbours put in an appearance. When I came all tho stacks were on fire from the ground to near the tops. My opinion is that the firo was uot accidental, and that every stack must have been set on fire separately, as the night was calm; a lighted match might have fired them; the stacks were .very dry ; there were two rows of stacks, ] 0 or 11 feet apart. Tho dog is very savage, and he must bave seen or heard some person at M'Vicav's, as he ran in that direction, lieturned to my house at dusk, and did not leave the house again until my father called out fire about 9 o'clock ; my fu.ther came in about five minutes after I did ; he did not. leave the house until he saw the fire. Alexander M'Leod M 'Vicar : lam a settler, residing at Puerua. I recollect Thursday, the 11th of April. I was not at home on that day. I returned about 10 minutes past 7. lam not aware, whether there was any person in tile house on that day with the exception of my wife. The stack-yard is distant from the house about 100 yards. I had three stacks of wheat amounting to 240 bushels, and. three stacks of oats containing 400 bushels, not insured. After coming home I went . outside and started feuciug in a paddock on tho opposite side of tap stack-yard.. I remained about two'hours. It was a very clear night, and I saw no person about. I have a dog. I heard him baric about 8 o'clock. He never barks unless there is some person about. The dog was on the chain about 9 yards from the stack-yard. I took no notice of the' dog barkin". 16 is not unusual for people to pass through the paddock on a clear night. About 9 o'clock I passed the stack-yard ou my way home. I neither saw nor smolt fire. I returned to the house, prepared to go to bed, and was just going to bed when the witness Thomas Jolinstone came to the front of the house, placed his hands on the door, aud cried out " Your stacks are on fire." He was quite out of breath, and evidently had benn running fast. I weut to the stack-yard along with Johnstone. The six stacks were all on fite at the top. As I went to^tlio buggy-shed I only saw two stacks clearly,, aud they were on firo at tho west side. The Johnstones assisted me as much as was in their power. We only saved a few sheaves. I lost a number of sundries. • Two ' sheds were burnt down, and the stable partly burot. I estimate my loss at £300. No portion was insured. It is three years since I first bought this property from William Frank. I bought 160 acres at £3 per acre. I could not say that I was on bad terms with Frank. He has threatened to blow my brains out und shoot me. The reason I think was because I would nob allow him to run his cattle on my Lnd. lam of opinion that the fire was caused by either kerosene or powder, as after removing the harness I went to the stacks and saw the fire puffing on the ground between the stacks. The flume was greenish. I am further convinced as ifc- was only about seven minutes from the time I passed the stacks going to my house until I returned and saw them iv flames that the fire must have been caused by either kerosene, gunpowder, or some othor.inflammable matter. This was all tho evidence, and the Coroner having addressed the jury, a vordict was returned that six stacks, the property of Alexander MTjeod M "Vicar, were feloniously, wilfully, and maliciously set fire ou the night of the llth of April, by some person or persons to the jurors unknown. ■ ■ 1