KUROW FIRE

Hokitika Guardian, 13 December 1928, Page 2

KUROW FIRE

i v CLEARING UP THE MYSTERY, -MAN UNDER ASSEST. - TIMARU, Decoinbor 11. As thd result of' tbe arrest of a young nian in connection with the theft of a gold chain at Kurow some months ago, the police state that from information in their possession they are hopeful of clearing up the mystery surrounding the origin of the fire which destroyed the Kurow railway and post office in the early hours of Aloiiday, December 3rd. The man was lately employed on the hydro-electric works at Awaknio and was arrested on warrant at Wellington on Saturday. The Timaru police were advised on Friday night of the accused’s departure from Kurow, and it was subsequently ascertained that he had left for the north. He was arrested on the arrival of the ferry steamer from Lyttelton and remanded in the Magistrate’s .Court subsequently, to appear at Timaru to-morrow. He was interviewed by the police on his arrival under escort to-day, and it is understood that, as the result, a further charge will be laid against him in connection with the Ivurow affair. it will be recollected that subsequent to the fire a large quantity of small matter was discovered in the Waitaki river-bed. The money required to pay the man employed on the Awakino hydro electric works was supposed to lie in the building. Some of the letters found in the riverbed containied cheques. The safe in the post office contained between £3OO and £IOO in cash, lmt there was no indication that an attempt had been made to gain access to it.