SUSPICIOUS FIRE IN WANGANUI

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3185, 8 September 1917, Page 7

SUSPICIOUS FIRE IN WANGANUI

PUBLIC SCHOOL DBSTEOTBD. (By Telegrraoh-Sperial Correspondent.) Wanganui, September 7. The Queeu's Park School, one of tho principal State, schools in Wanganui, was practically destroyed by tire at midday to-day. The school had been closed for a weeklduring holidays. The origin of the lire is a mystery. The fire hud a strong hold when discovered. The insurances total ctlOflO, besides which the Department takes the risk over the oldest portion of the building. Ahout ilfifl \\;orth of bands' instruments, as well as many pounds of school. books, were destroyed. Tho insurances are divided as follow:-New Zealand, XW 6s. Sd.; South British, Victoria, Standard, and Liverpool, London, nnd Globe, 41166 13s. 4d. each. Home rather . sensational disclosures have since been made in connection with the fird. From information gathered by the police it appears that Eros have occurred in other schools in \ynnganui, during tho presout week, and ineeudiarism is suspected. The first school to be ignited was the Victoria Avenue School. At li p.m. on Monday last when the charwoman left everything whs in order. I'oturning at 4 o'clock on Tuesday, however, on entering one of the rooms she found that it had been ransacked, tho driwors in the headmaster's tablo had been forced open, and lockers had been entered. Tho contents had been placed on top of tho tablo and set on fire, the charred remains being found. ]n the second room the same state of affairs was seen, while in tho third room contents of the drawers and lockers had been placed in the centre of the door and set alight. Fortunately no further damage was done *nvo the charring of tho woodwork. On the following day, when a visit was paid to Miss O'Brien's infant school, near St. John's Hill, the gas ring in one room was discovered to he alight. How long it had been burning no one knows, but it was certain that it v;as set alight after the school, had broken up for the week's holiday. The police are investigating the outbreaks. ■ . '