FIRES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2521, 7 June 1909, Page 5

FIRES.

SUSPECTED INCENDIARISM. .

[Per Press Association.]

CHRISTCHURCH, June 5. Hires at Ilangiora have been frequent of Jate, and another occurred at 4 o’clock this morning, giving rise to suspicion of incendiarism. The cutbreak, as on prevous occasions, was in an xmoccupied building. This time it was in the centre of the town, and four shops and a small • dice were destroyed. The fire broke out in a small shop, the property of Mark Scott, nearly opposite the New Zealand Co-operative stores, and which, up to Wednesday, had la on used as a laundry Dy Miss Mate on, but was about to be removed, Mr. Scott having decided to build new premises. Attached was a small office, also about to be removed, which was vacated by the tenant on Friday afternoon. Two shops and dwellings adjoined, also Scott’s property, occupied by Ball, ’watchmaker, and Miss Mardon. On the other side, where the outbreak occurred, was the motor bicycle shop of Carter and Evans. All these premises were destroyed or gutted beyond repair. Ball’s family discovered the fire in time to escape in their night dresses. The brigade did good work. There is good reason to believe the fire was the work of an incendiary. Back doors and windows had been removed preparatory to shifting. There had been no fire in the building for three or four days, and no sign of fire had been seen by passers-by. The insurances were: Scott’s building, £375 in the Royal office; Ball’s stock £250 in the Victoria office, and £4O in the Standard office; Evans’ premises £l5O in the State office; Carter’s stock £l5O, also in the State office. The loss is considerably over the insurance.

SUPPOSED SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION.

NAPIER, June 5. A fire occurred at an early hour yesterday morning in a two-story brick building at Port Alvuriri, portion of which is occupied by V arren, Smith, and Co., bottlers, and the upper portion by Piper and Co., sail and tent makers. The fire originated upstairs, andl is believed to have been due to spontaneous combustion. The upper part of the building was considerably damaged, and Piper and Co. s stock was destroyed. The. insurances were: On the building. £200: Piper and Co. s stock £400; Warren, Smith and Co. s stock £so—all in the National office..