Damage amounting to about £250 was caused through a fire which occurred at Melchbourne on Wednesday morning to some ricks of hay belonging to Mr. G. Smith, a farmer of that place. As two young men were returning from Deane on their bicycles they saw in a field a little from the road two stacks of hay on fire. One of them, named Harry Reynolds, immediately cycled over to Rushden and gave the alarm. The brigade, nine strong, under Captain Knight, were soon on their way to Melchbourne. The hose was first of all put into a pond not far from the hayricks, but this supply did not last very long, and the engine had to be removed to another field and the suction pipe placed in a brook. Although the firemen were continually playing on the fire from two in morning till two in the afternoon, they made little impression, for the flames had a good hold. One of the stacks was last year's hay and the other this year's crop and it is estimated that the quantity of the two stacks was about 60 or 70 tons, but every piece is absolutely spoiled, and the damage amounted to fully £200.  The scene of the fire attracted a large number of people later in the day, owing to rumour having gained currency that Melchbourne Hall, the seat of Lord St. John, was in flames.