DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 January 1927, Page 2

DOMINION ITEMS.

[bT TELEGRAPH rER PRESS ASSOCIATION.!

FIREMAN INJURED. CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. G.

AA’hen the New Brighton Fire Brigade. which attended a fire last night, stopped at a water plug, it was found that one member of the engine crew, AA : . H. Tooley, was missing. A motorist who was attracted by the blaze and was proceeding to the lire, found the fireman unconscious on tho road. It appears tlwfc as the engine was nearing the water plug, Tooley lifted a reel of hose, intending to drop it oil the ground ready for running out. In doing so, ho fell, hut his fall was unnoticed bv the other members of the engine crew and the engine did not stop. Tooley suffered injuries to his head and hack. The fire was at Palmer’s Road, North Beach, an unoccupied house belonging to F. Peters being destroyed.

SCHOOL BURNT. f CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 7. 9 Tlk> wooden portion of Spreydon School was destroyed by a spectacular x fire which occurred shortly before midnight last night. The outbreak ' { is suspicious. .Eighteen months ago an incendiary attempt was made on the same building. AA'liile it lasted the blaze was vivid, hose leads doing little to curb the furv of the flames. By 12.4-5 the building had practically collapsed and the open air shed and coal and firewood stores, which separate, it from the main building had also been destroyed. Two tons of coal in the shed helped to make the fire in the smaller buildings quite as spectacular as in the big fire. The caretaker Is certain he did nothing which might have paused a fire. The building, which was from 30 to 53 years okl, consisted of four big class rooms. The woodwork was not in a good state and made excellent fuel. On a recent visit the Minister of Education expressed the view that the school was scarcely in a fit state for occupation, and it was placed well 'up on the rebuilding list. *