INCENDIARISM IN CHRISTCHURCH.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XIII, Issue 557, 5 March 1868, Page 2

INCENDIARISM IN CHRISTCHURCH.

. A riEE broke out on the night of the 7th vile, in a grocer’s shop, opposite the Post ' and contiguous to the Duke of ■ u a house occupied j oy Mrs Pope, and one man, named RanU.UI, was burnt to death, being unable ' *? esca P°- Tho Brigade being early on tbe spot, prevented the spread of the flames. Of the fatality by which the fire was accompanied, tbe Press says “It 1 had been rumored during the progress of the fire that a man was in the building jwh n the fire broke out, and as he could | nowhere be found, the suspicion gained ground. As soon as tiie ruins were sufficiently cooled, a search was made amongst jthem, and the fears that were entertained were only too true, for the charred skeleton of the unfortunate man was found, lyin'* on it' back, near the front of the ruins! Ail that remained of the body besides the skeleton was a small portion of entraiL The remains of the poor fellow—whoso name is Rankin—were collected together and placed in a case. Mr Swale, who was partner in the grocery business with the unfortunate deceased, gives the followin'* j particulars with reference to the disaster |He states that a little after 11 o’clock, I whin jn bed, he found Hie place was on |nre, and immediately jumped up and called upon Rankin to run for his life, 83 the house was on fire. Deceased, however the says, treated what he told him with im i difference, and he was obliged to rush ,irom the house at once to save himself. He states that he had to run through tho II lines, and was much burnt in consequence. He avers that he has not tho slightest knowledge as to how the firo originated. The building destroyed bo.onged to a Mr Walton, and was originally insured by him for £IOO in the London and Liverpool office. Mr Walton had occasion some time back to go to Australia, and on returning a week or two ago learufc that the person whom he left here as his agent, with full power and means to keep the building properly insured, had neglected to renew the policy, and consequently he loses the insurance money. Mrs Pope’s premises are insured for £750, viz. in the Royal lor £ooo, and in the Hew Zealand for £l5O, hut this amount will by uo means cover her loss.”

Suspicions of foul play with reference to the origin of the fire iu Christchurch, by which Rankin lost his life, have become "cry grave, and Swale has been arrested. Ihe Lyttelton Times says : “It appears that a few days ago, Rankin and Swale had agreed to dissolve partnership. On Friday niaht they were heard to enter the shop together, and shortly afterwards they went up stairs to bed. Soon after, high words took place between them, and then a shuffling sound was heard by a neighbor. All became quiet, but on tho neighbor going into the back yard shortly after, smoke was observed issuing from the back premises of tho house, and Swale looking on quite unconcernedly at the far end of the garden. The am m was given, and although swale was seen about several times, he said nothing respecting Rankin being on the premises until the flames had broken out in every part of the building. A travelling bag, containing wearing apparel and other articles, was afterwards discovered behind a cask near where Swale was standing.*’ Later exchanges inform us that Swale has been committed for trial on a charge of wilful murder.