DAMAGE BY FIRE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 29 July 1929, Page 4

DAMAGE BY FIRE

INCENDIARISM AT CHRISTCHURCH (By Telegraph—Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, 27th July. Last night’s fire at Mr Archer’s house was the eighth of a similar nature in th/e- city in the past three weeks. The total damage is estimated at £16,000. The police are investigating the matter, but there is no trace yet of the criminals. Mr Archer believes that nothing has been stolen. The thieves’ first attempt to enter the house was through the breakfast-room. There are two sets of footprints, one large and the other much smaller, leajding from the back of the washhouse across the garden to the breakfast-room window, and marks on the catch of the'window indicate that an attempt was made to force it. After being foiled there, it is believed that the thieves entei'ed through one of the dining-room windows. CHRISTCHURCH. This Day. An attempt was made by an incendiarist on Sunday morning" to destroy the temporarily unoccupied house of T. J. Porterfield, in Mersey street, St. Albans. A . neighbour gave the alarm and the police sergeant pulled out burning bedding before much damage was done. HOUSE DESTROYED ELTHAM, 27th July. A fire at 4 o’clock this morning destroyed a six-roomed house in Mountain road, Eltham, owned by Miss C. Morris, of New Plymouth, and occupied bv Mr and Mrs W. H. Powell, who were awakened by smoke and found the building ablaze. Part of the furniture had been removed yesterday in view of Mr Powell’s departure from Eltham. The balance, including a dentist’s outfit, was destroyed. The Fire Brigade did good work, but the building was destroyed. Some firemen was gassed as the result- of the explosion of a gas cylinder, but later recovered. The insurances on the house are not available. There was £3OO on tho furniture and £9OO on the dental equipment, both in the South British Office. Tho personal belongings were insured for £2OO in the Alliance Office. EIRE IN THEATRE INVERCARGILL, 26th July. Some, excitement was caused at the Majestic Theatre this evening when an outbreak of fire occurred in the operating box through a fuse blowing out and igniting a small piece of film. The theatre was rapidly cleared, and there was no panic whatever. The outbreak was soon suppressed by a chemical extinguisher, and it- is stated that the damage was very slight. Immediately afterwards the people returned to the theatre and the programme was resumed.