FIRES IN INSTITUTION.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17111, 5 April 1921, Page 7

FIRES IN INSTITUTION.

CHARGES AGAINST INMATES. ' (press association, TEMGRAM.) AUCKLAND, April 4. Persistent attempts to burn down the Door of Hope Reformative Institution were disclosed in the Magistrate's Court to-day, when three inmates, aged aged 13 years, 18 years, and 19 years respectively, (were charged with having attempted-to set fire to the building. There were three charges against one girl and one charge against each of the two others. ' Lily Drew, matron at the Home, said the institution had been on fire in May, 1920, twice in January, 1921, and once in February, 1921. Whw> questioned, one of the accused admitted that she had started three fires and.said she had been dared to set fire to the kitchen by a girl who had now left the institution. Another girl said she was not the onlv one in the last fire. DetectiverSergeant Hammond produced statements by the three girls. One girl was committed for trial, and the charges against the other two were reduced to mischief. The Magistrate said there was evidently a widespread conspiracy to burn down the nlace. One girl was sentto the Receiving Home,, and the other remanded pending enquiries.