INCENDIARISM AT AUCKLAND.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1541, 5 August 1886, Page 3

INCENDIARISM AT AUCKLAND.

The Dairy Company’s premises, Remuera, Auckland, were completely destroyed by fire at 3.30 a.m. on Tuesday, They consisted of large wooden cowsheds, grain, and milk stores, etc. Stephen Spalding, formerly employed as submanager by the Company, surrendered himself to tho police as having deliberately caused the fire. While the firs was raging, Spalding roused the Company’s employees, and told them ha had set tire to the buildings, and put powder under them to blow them up. He left the Company’s employ some time ago owing to a dispute about dismissing a boy, and since then he had threatened the manager’s life. Besides the building a large quantity of milk, etc., was destroyed. The building was insured for £SOO in the Colonial. When being taken to the guard room, Spalding repeated the statement that he had set fire to the building. Spalding was under an agreement with the Company not to sell milk for two years after leaving the Company’s employ, and when Lawry bought an interest in the concern he went to Booth and tried to get hia pledge back. He then caused annoyance by making threats against Booth personally, saying he would swing for him, and otherwise) causing unpleasantness, On another occasion he went with a Dottle of laudanum to Booth’s and said he would destroy himself unless the agreement was restored. Last week he commenced selling for another Company, and notice was sent to him to discontinue doing so. Spalding then offered to give £SO, and was told a compromise would be made rather than have any further annoyance. He is an experienced Lincolnshire farmer, and two years ago he was engaged by Booth to manage the farm at Penrose, where from 40 to 100 head of cattle are usually kept. He has a wife and five or six children, the elder of whom is a lad of fifteen.