AN INCENDIARY

Hokitika Guardian, 7 January 1931, Page 1

AN INCENDIARY

AT WORK IX NAPIER. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) NAPIER, Jan. .3. Two fires, which appear to have been the outcome of incendiarism, occurred in Napier on Saturday, one in the early hours of the morning and the other late at night. In the first case slight damage was done to St. Patrick's Church, a very largo wooden building in Munro street, and in the second an tin tenant, ed house of six rooms was completely destroyed. Early on Saturday afternoon, the police arrested a labourer, named Samuel Hazlett. who was subsequently charged with arson and remanded to January 12. An unoccupied six-roomed house in Harvey Road, Napier, the property ol Mrs Rowell, of Napier, wap completely destroyed by lire late on Saturday night. The bade part of the house was well alight when the brigade arrived. Some delay occurred in locating the fire plug, and when it was found the water pressure was not very good, otherwise the outbreak might have Ibeen cheeked more readily. As it was. when the flames were subdued, little beyond the scarred skeleton of a house remained. The building was insured for £llOO in the Mercantile and General Office. When the brigade reached the house the fire appeared to have .started in two places, and. though ’ doors and windows had been locked since the place was vacated some weeks ago. one window was up about six inches. Fusing of electric wires is not possible, as the current had keen cut off.