FIRE AT RANGIORA

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20495, 14 March 1932, Page 11

FIRE AT RANGIORA

"RECORD" OFFICE DAMAGED. ' EVIDENCE OF INCENDIARISM. A fire which broke out in the office of the "Record," a newspaper published thrice weekly in Rangiora, early on Sunday morning damaged the building and the machinery to the extent of about £4OO. Evidence was found indicating that the fire had been deliberately started. There are two sections of the' building—one, the old wooden portion, believed to be 72 years old, and, at the rear, a recently-constructed concrete addition, housing one of the linotype machines. The first started in the partition between the two sections and spread into the ceiling towards the front.. It had damaged the building considerably and one of the linotype machines before it was extinguished. According to a statement made by M* R. J. Logan, the proprietor of the "Kceord," the police found a quantity of hessian, soaked in kerosene, with which the fire had. apparently " been started. Good Water Supply. Mr Logan stated after the fire that the splendid work of the Fire Brigade, aided by the ample supply of water, had saved the building and plant from destruction. The fire had given the town's new higli-pressuro water supply Its first :i; jor test. This had been successful, fur so great had been the amount of water available, that the automatic auxiliary pump installed for such an emergency had not been put into operation. Mr Logan was the proprietor of the "Kaiapoi Record," which was destroyed by fire three years ago. The building damaged by the fire has an interesting and long history. It was first used as the Free Methodists' Sunday school, and was then situated in Victoria street.

The damage done by fire to one of the two linotype machines can be arrived at only bj an expert examination. It was insured for £4OO. The building and contents were insured over all for £9OO in the. Royal Exchange office.