A NEAR FIRE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 173, 29 October 1941, Page 5

A NEAR FIRE

DRUNKEN MAN'S ACTION

SWIFT ACTION BY BRIGADE

Seen deliberately setting fire to papers within the smiall building occupied jointly by Messrs R. F. Smith (solicitor) and 1 H. O. Garaway (accountant) in the Strand, last Saturday, a young man, Alexander Hume, was quickly overpowered! andl later arrested before he could do any more than slight damage to the offices. Apparently, Hume, who was under the influence of liquor, had gained entrance to the building by smashing a pane ol glass in a window at the side. He was not observed until the light of a blaze was noticed by several persons on the roadway avlio were responsible for summoning the lire brigade and also overpowering the culprit. The Tires, three small ones fed by papers, found on the premises Ave re actually extinguished before the brigade arrived and had done little damage apart from slight scorching of the walls.

Hume, who appeared to be quite irresponsible owing to lii.s intoxicated state, made no resistance and Avas lodged by the police in the cells. Had it' not been for the prompt action of those Avho first noticed the lire the result Avould probably liaA r e been a very serious loss toi the tAvo businessmen concerned, quite apart from the risk to other buildings in the vicinity.

PRISONER REMANDED

PERIOD OF OBSERVATION

Before Judge R. P. Dykes, of the Native Land Court, Hume was charged with drunkenness in the Whakatane Court yesterday morning- He was remanded for a week for observation and. will appear again on November 4.