GREAT FIRE IN AUCKLAND.

Temuka Leader, Issue 154, 14 August 1886, Page 3

GREAT FIRE IN AUCKLAND.

Shortly before twelve o’clock m Wednesday night, a fire broke oat m the shop of Mr Clark, watchmaker, b Eden Ter, in the suburban disarm Booth of ii- ■ city, and nine shops an pjy dwelling-honses and a ladi ■ seminary were destroyed, ihe fir raged for two hours. The buildingdestroyed were occupied ns follows First shop, occupied by J. Heath, boormatter ; second, empty ; third, by J. J, Clark, watchmaker; fourth, by Mix* Johnston’s seminary ; fifth, by Co'-, bootmaker; MX*h, by Mrs Bead no : dressmaker ; seventh, by Walker, gru grocer ; eighth, by Hannigan, groe r and ironmonger; ninth, by Simpson, plumber. The shops had ail dwellinghouses attached, and were mostly tv, - storey wooden buildings. Ihe last named three were on the opposite side of the street from the others. The insurances, as far as is known, are ; Heath and Clark’s block—£4so in the New Zealand, £3OO in the South British ; Clark’s stock—£lso in tl • Norwich Union; Miss Johnston—£7Co in the N ew - Zealand ; Mrs Beadnell—£9so in:, the United ; Cole —£500 u the United ; Hannigan—£llso in i the South, British ; Simpfon—£3so in the Royal. Clark was airested at his lodgings, charged with arson, £IOO worth of his stock has been discovered, and it is said his insurance policy expired on Thursday. He was brought up at the police court on Thursday and 1 remanded, bail being refused, ! further particulars. | The arrest of Clark, it appears, wn- ]

made inder the following circunHnne-s

Detective Herbeit, who readied tiir * st 12.30, heard that the fire tud originated ,n Clark’s shop, and, lihvi<-« known him at ihe Thanks, he rogues'-j Constable D wes to question him al-i ut the fire. When Dewes proceeded to carry .oat this request, Clark replied, “ 1 do not see why I should be questioned by the police.” Subsequently Herbert interviewed him, when Clark asserted that be h«d on'y saved two boxes, containing articles < f little value. On being asked where the boxes were, he stated that they were on the vacant allotment opposite, Ihe deitctive t then requested him to show him the boxes, as it was necessary that he should inspect the contents. Clark then took the detective past the vacant allotment and down Sumner street to the house of a Mrs Irwin where he pointed out two boxes, lying in tbe passage, and which he said was the only property taved. Detective Herbert and Constable Dewes examined the boxes, and found they were full of working jewellery material. Clark stated that was all the property he had saved. About this time Sergeant Gamble arrived at Mrs Irwin’s bouse, and the police made a thorough search of the ‘boose, which resulted in the discovery of a quantity of other things, watches, v grains, rings, bedclothes, boots, croekery- - ware, a £2O note, musical instruments, and other property of considerable value. These were under Mrs Irwin’s bed. Clark stated to the police that ho was insured for £l5O in the tforwicbjUnion, bat he did not know whether the policy had ran out or not. Amongst the pro-

perty recotered was the insurance policy, . which, it was found, expired on August (Thursday). Mrjp Irwin stated that Clark, had been boarding with her for gome time, though he slept in his shop Whe was in the shop on Tuesday, and there was no furniture there, He had no bedstead, but slept on the floor, He . informed her that be was asleep when the fire commenced, and escaped minus * his boots and most of his clothes. When first seen by Detective Herbert, Clark had all his clothes on, even to bis overcoat, and his boots were laced. : Clark asserted that all the property insured was destroyed, aud that found in Mrs Irwin’s house was uninsured, Mrs Irwin alates that Clark has been boarding with her for some time past. She was in the house the day before the ■ fire, and he had then literally no furni- ’ ture. He slept on the floor, having no bedstead. He had only a frying-pan, a . chair, and an old table, He told her he was asleep when the fire occurred, and escaped without his boots and most of bis clothing. Clark has only recently occupied the shop in Eden Terrace. Some month ago he bad a shop in Karagahape road. He was for many years in business at Thames as a watchmaker and jeweller.