FIRES, AND CONSEQUENCES OF FIRES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 912, 2 February 1882, Page 3

FIRES, AND CONSEQUENCES OF FIRES.

At Auckland, J .s pli Merrirk has been Remanded n a charge of arson: Ho is alleged to have s>t fire to his shop on New

Year's Eve. A Ccristchurch telegram state* that a terrible catastroph • happened on Sunday last, at West Eyre ion, by which a farmer named Henry Sirap-i m lost his wife ant (5 children age of the former was 28 y:u>, and the latter ranged be'ween se<*tn years atid five mouths. Tfte house in which tlry lived was two storied and tonianad three rooms. It appeals that Simpson on the morning in. question (having previously reaped his owr. crop) got up ear y for the purp s.e of assisting his neighbor. His ivife got his break-, fast ready, and it is supposed that after he left home in camp.my with some iwo or three other men »h.j were working with him, Mrs Simpson returned to her bedroom, and that meanwhile the fire in the kitchen grate blew out of it, and set fire to the kitchen and sta rcase. It is evident from the position of the bodies that the children were all burnt in their beds, and t'la' Messrs Simpson must have been burnt in her own room while s'?e was shielding her baby from the devouring flames, a* the baby's body and her oiyn breasts are the leas: charred by the fire, and "lie baby was found {lying near to. her. The house w a insured in the London and Liverpool and Globe Insurance Coinpa y tor £IOO, and £25 on the furuitnie. A i.nquest was held on the bodies of Mrs H. Simpson and her six childr ;n, who were b.irned alive-at West Eyreton. The jury after viewing the remains, and taking evidence, said there was. noth ng to prove the origin of the fire, and an open verdict was returned.

Shortly after four o'clock on Tuesday morning afire occurred in Fisher's grocery B'.op in High street, Ohristchnmh. The Fire Brigade mustered rapidly, and the fire was extinguished before mm-h d image was done. The damag- from fire and wat ris estimated at £lO3, and this is fully covered by insurance. On Saturday last, a I out 5 o'clock, tho Public Library *t Ashburtnn was burned down. It contained from 700 to 800 volumes. The l"ss on the whole is estitimated at £IOOO. The total insurances amount to £SOO in the S >uth British offJ3'.

Waldman, who"* was arrested for the Qnee .stoivn (Otago) fire, was hooted, and hissed on his arrival at Queens)ow.;, and rotten eggs were thrown. It is stated appearances lead to the belief tnat he hid accomplices in the matter.