SERIOUS FIRE at TAMAHERE. Suspected Incendiarism.

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1740, 30 August 1883, Page 2

SERIOUS FIRE at TAMAHERE. Suspected Incendiarism.

At a late lioiir on Sunday night last a fire broke out at the homestead of Mi 1 W. M. Douglas, Briaily, Tamahere, •which resulted in the total destruction of a number of out buildings, including coachhouse, stables, cow sheds and barn, together with a lot of property in the way ot implements, &c. It appears that at about 11.30 on Sunday night, Mr Douglas having retired to bed, heaid his dog baikmg very loudly, and from this suspected that something was wrong. .Shortly after one of the woman servants, residing in ;i cottage near by with her husband, came to the house, and lapping at the window, informed Mr Dou<_'las that the out-houses were on fire. On Mr Douglas icaching the scene ot the fiu\ one of the woikmcn wa* engaged saving whatever lie could liom the flames. They succeeded in getting the horses out, the bugi»y, a dull, and sundiy other articles ; but most of the property, including fifteen bags ot oats, and sundry other valuable articles wcie dcstioyod. It wdl be lcmembcicd that the Bii.uly estate was formeily in the possession of Mr JI. W. Tinne, but was some time ago disposed of to Mr Douglas, who is now in leasehold occupation. Fortunately the lcsidencc is situated some distance from the out-houses, or the conscMpioiices might have been more serious. The buildings were insured in Mr Tinne's name, but it is not known to what oxtent. The loss of Mr Douglas was, tinfoi tunately, not covered by insui.iiice, but he has not yet been able to estimate tlu> damage. The origin of the fire is as yet a inysteiy, but Mr Douglas, foi cc tain reasons, has strong suspicions of incendiarism. No peioon, however, was seen in the \ieinity at the tune of the occurrence. The Cue is said to have bioken out in tho hay-loft.