Charge Of Arson Follows Nelson Fire

Chronicle (Levin), 31 March 1949, Page 5

Charge Of Arson Follows Nelson Fire

XELSOX, March. 30. A serious iire in the goods shed at the Nelson railway station had a secpie! in the Magistrate 's Court this morning when a volunteer member of the Nelson Fire Brigade, Brian Coutts Henry, aged 24, appeared before Mr. T. E. Maunsell, S.M., on a .charge of arson. Accused was exnployed by the Railways as a porter. It is stated by the police that ujiother charge is pending. Accused was remanded to appear on Apri] 8. Because all the Department 's records were destroyed it was impossible today to obtain an accurate estimate of thc extent of the loss, but it is expected to be in excess of £2000. Three house lots of fumiture Avere stored in the shed as well as a big variety of other goods. Although badly eharred the building is still standiug today and repair gangs were at work before inidday eft'ectuig temporary repairs. Smart work by the brigadesmen and members oi the Rail ways staff saved some of the contents of the building. When Ilenry appeared in Court this morning Detective-Sergeant Murrav said ihe inquiries were by 'no means eomplete. On the app'lieation oi accused 's counsel bail was allowed, self at £400 and a snrety of £250 on condition that accused report daily. When the brigade arrived at the railway station the building was blazing furiouslv. The ffiuilding was securelv locked and the brigadesmen had to chop a hole through the wall io ,gain an entrance. The sliding doo>'s at the end had been lifted off their hinges. The furniture of Mr. H. J. Thompson, the new Magistrate from Wellington, suffered damage from heat, smoke and water, but escaped mueh more lightly than other lots which were owned by Messrs. C. II. Goodman and N. D. Ferguson, who are both leaving Nelson. Mr. Goodman was the Labour Party ca'ndidate for the Nelson seat at the last eleetion and is transferring to Tauranga. Mr. Fergubon is a member of the Lands and Survey Department and a former Crown representative on the Land Saies Court, and is on transfer to Wellington. His furniture, which was verv seriously damaged, was to have been transported from Nelson today by plane. A petrol traetor valued at several thousands of pounds and two wagons containing furniture belonging to Mr. Thompson were saved by the eonrageous action of Mr. P. J. Dodsworth, train examiner. The cab of the traetor was red hot and all the/ bodywork too hot to handle, but he scrambled inside and started the engine at the seeond attempt. The smolce was so dense that he did not realise that the trucks were linked with the traetor until he had driven clear of the building.