TWO FIRES.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 November 1925, Page 2

TWO FIRES.

INCENDIARISM AT WORK. A SMALL OUTBREAK. The (ire he 11 rang out an alarm of lire List night at 9 o’clock, the scene ol the outbreak being in a building used as a stable for two racehorses by Mr W. Jeffries, at the rear of the Government buildings, midway between Hie Soldiers’ Hall and the County Chambers. At the time of the alarm being given a considerable blaze was observed and much smoke. The Fire Brigade were promptly on the scene, hut before they arrived the hose from the standpipe at the rear ol the Government Buildings was brought into action and the lire was soon disposed of. There was not much damage done, the outbreak having started in one of the loose boxes. The horses were in a paddock adjoining at the time and were not injured in any way. ANOTHER OUTBREAK. AT ST. MARY’S SCHOOL. At i o’clock this morning Mr ..I. .Mclntosh j iir.. and Mr Pfahlert jnr. who had ju*-L returned from tin* Woodstock hall saw smoke at St. Mary's Schools building and going to the north side found flames coming from, a bundle of tar and sacking saturated with oil afire. This was palled away lm| the flames had run up between the walls to the ceiling and the place was well afire. They immediately gave the alarm and went to the Fire Station for gear. A very prompt turnout of the Brigade resulted and in a short time a line of hose was run out. By this time flames were coming out of the roof at the centre of the building and .great volumes ol smoke were issuing along the whole line of the parapet, the place seeming doomed. There was a tine water pressure and the stream at once made itself felt. A second line of hose was run out promptly and the Brigade had the satisfaction of at once getting control, it being oulv a few minutes before the danger of the lire spreading was eliminated. The damage done to the structure under the circumstances is not id a very .substantial nature, the Brigade making one of the Lest saves of many years.

The damage to the building all lays in the ceiling and roof, and the lower portion of the building is undamaged.

The circumstances of the outbreak point directly to incendiarism, a heap of tar and sacking, a- stated, being found hunting in the corner of the porch and main building on the ottside and front this the lire outbreak started. It forms another of those mysterious outbreaks which have caused so much concern in the town and the reason whereof is so hard to find. While regret is expressed at the damage done to the fine school ol St. Mary's, much relief i- fell that the damage is far less than appeared inevitable when the Fire Brigade arrived on the scene.

The insurances on the building are CfioO in the Royal Office, while the damage done should not exceed €l5O.