KIHIKIHI.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2460, 17 April 1888, Page 2

KIHIKIHI.

Wheat Stack Burned.—One of Mr Hutchinson's wheat stacks was burned on Friday last, the loss being about £70 or £80. The tire was first seen by a native, who gave the alarm, and when Mr Hutchinson went to the spot he found the fire had :>riginated en the roof some little distance in from the surface. That it was not done wilfully was evident, as if such had been the case it would have been set alight at the bottom, or, if on the roof, it would have been on the surface, but the fire in this case began in the body of tin: top. Very soon after Mr Hutohinson arrived the lire burst out strongly, and spread with great rapidity. All attention was therefore turned to savin;? an adjoining stack, which was only eight or nine feet distant. Many willing helpers scion arrived on the ground and an iron partition was soon run up between the stacks, sacks and blankets were also laid on the sound stuck, and theso and the lion were kept constantly wet. So great was the lmat that the iron was almost red hot, and the tin.her to which it was nailed frequently took (ire, and the water that dripped from the covering was scalding hot. This shows how a lire may be prevented from .spreading by perseverance, but all this would hiivu been wasted but for the wind being favourable, Then; was no insurance, so tho loss is considerable, The straw was in good condition when the stack was built, so that the fire did not arise from spontaneous combustion. There is little doubt but that the " incendiary rat" U to blame in this case. Home one dropped a match or matches cm the stack whaii building, and these have been gnawed by rats, and so the firo started. It is one of thoso mysterious cases in which blame is often undeservedly bestowed and had it been insured, tho company probably would have looked with suspicion upon the affair. That it did not originate epoutaneously is pretty certain, as another stack which came from the same paddock and was built before the one burned is perfectly sound, besides there was no rain to damp the straw during the harvest. This goes to show how careful men should be, and farmers would do well to make workmen »u or about the stack take all their matches out of their pocljets, for there can be littlo doubt that such is the cause of this fire, and the " incendiary rat " is guilty this time, Cqxckut.— On Friday week, a concert will bs given in the hall by Mr Patterson s pupils. J.t will, J. believe, be the first of the kind held in the district. Hevoral piece.? are in preparation, and I behove some novelties will be .introduced, one of which will be the "See-saw" waltz by a nuiijbcr of children. As most of the performers wjll be children, tho novelty will m doubt attract a largo audience. I'rom what I hear of them, Mr Patterson's pupils will do him credit on the occasion.