THE FIRE AT FEN COURT.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1396, 14 June 1881, Page 2

THE FIRE AT FEN COURT.

The origin of the fire which broke out afc the homestead of Mr Every Maclean at Fen Couit on Thursday night last, and proved so destructive to property, in as yec veiled in complete mystery. Some people — especially those interested — maintain in believing it the work of an incendiary, whereas others argue that no person however vindictive or evilly disposed would he so courageous as to venture on such a perilous task on a clear moonlight night, and toappronch a place where there was every possibility of their being de« tected in the execution of their malicious and fiend- like designs. The place where the fire originated is an extensive hayloffc, with a stable underneath, capable of accnmodating eight or ten horses. Adjoining this building is a leanto where an engine and boiler, used for chaffoutting purposes, are located, but as they hare not been in use for the past eight or ten days, the fire could not have originated with them. At about 4.30. p.m. on Thnrsday afternoon, men were at work filling the loffc with hay from a dray, which was drawn up outside. One was in the loffc receiving the hay while the other was forking it up from the dray outside. Tbere is a small landing immediately between the dray and entrance to the loft — and it was on this that the fire is said to have originated. Before five o'clock the men knocked off work, and having locked up the place went away for the night. At about 10 o'clock the drivers came to feed their horses (which were in the stable under the hay-loft) bringing with them a naked light and after doing so closed the place as usual and retired for the night. At 11.40. one of the servant gills living at the homestead discovered that the hay-loft was on fire, an<l at once gave the alarm. Several hands Avere soon collected round the scene of the conflagration, but the five having got a good hold and everything within its reach bring of an inflammable nature they were utterly unable to stay its progress and prevent the wholesale destruction of property which ensued. Their efforts were mainly confined to saving the horses, which they succeeded in doing with some risk and considerable difficulty, one being so intensely stupefied with the noise and heat that it had to be carried out bodily. Foitunately they succeeded in preventing the destruction of the homestead, which lias escaped untouched. The fire was permitted to die out ot its own free will, there being comparatively no facility convenient to act as a deterrent against its destructive agency. H.i'l the fatal spark from which the the originated been introduced during the time the men were filling the loft with hay, it would not have taken about •>i\ hours to develope itself, nor could it ha\e been smouldering that time without being noticed. The drivers who went to feed their horses at about 10 o'clock, and who used a naked light when doing so, ,ire positive that the fire did not originate thiough any ne<di£ence on their part. They hay that having no business to bring them to the hay-loft, they did not go thfio, and ;is the fire did not originate in the stables but in the loft, they are consequently beyond sxispicion and as the innocence of the engine and boiler is indisputable, they not having been lit for eiyht days, what caused the fire on Thursday night is as yet a mystery. Detective Donlan remained at Fen Court all day on Fiiday, investigating the affair and Sergt. McGovern having 1 been communicated with, arrived on Friday evenin!): and made some enquiries into the circumstances, but neither of these officers have as yet discovered any clue by which the origin of the fire might be traced. Detective Jeffrey arrived in Cambridge on Saturday evening by the coach to assist the local detective in investlgatrarf j the affair. ! The damage done to property is esti- , mated at about £2000, and the insurances amount to £1700 in the New Zealand Insurance Company. It was thought that the Company would order an enquiry to be held into the affair, but unless there are some further developements as to the cause, they will not do so.