SUSPICIOUS FIRE

Hokitika Guardian, 8 April 1931, Page 2

SUSPICIOUS FIRE

HOUSE DAMAGED, KEROSENE SPRINKLED ON CONTENTS. CHRISTCHURCH, April 7. Suspicious eireumstners surround a fire which damaged a five-roomed house at Hi, Norfolk Street, Papanui, yesterday a ternooii. When attacking the outbreak, the firemen found that kerosene had been liberally sprinkled on the carpets, curtains and bedding of every room. In each room, r, separate fir© bad been lighted,

The occupier of the house. Mr T. Nome, was absent at 3.30 p.jn., when the outbreak was discovered. He had no insurance on the furniture. Owing to Mr Norrie’s absence, if could not be ascertained last night if anything had been stolen from the dwelling. The house had been entered through the scullery window, which had been broken. The attempt to destroy the house was, however, a failure, for as no windows in the other rooms had been left open, the fires could not get enough air to blaze vigorously, and must have smouldered for nearly half

an hour before the alarm was given by a boy who saw smoke coming from the house. The brigade soon, had the fire under control.