INCENDIARY FIRES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9074, 14 February 1908, Page 4

INCENDIARY FIRES.

Press Association. Christchurch, February 13. The ruins of Wardell’s factory, which have been smouldering since the fire last Thursday night, began to burn fiercely this morning, and the brigade had to get to work. The shell of .the build lug contained loft or 20ft. of debris, apparently consisting mainly of bricks and charred beams, and from'tins a dense cloud of smoke was rising with an amount of force that indicated a strong fire underneath. There was no danger of the fire spreading, but the smoke was a source of considerable annoyance to the neighbouring business premises. Tins aftoroonthe Brigade was still pumping water into the ruins, but had not succeeded in suppressing the fire. To-night outbreaks of sre were discovered iu no fewer than six different places iu the business heart of the city, and indications point to the fact that a baud of inceudiarists. are at work. All the outbreaks were similiar iu character, the contents of the rubbish-boxes in the narrow alleyways being set alight after, the board had been 'placed against the walls of the buildings. The outbreaks were found in a right-of-way between the Grain Agency buildings and the Cafe de Paris Hotel, at a. point where several wooden shops abut on a right-of-way near Brice’S' corner, leading from Hereford: Street, in another right-of-way, and running irjm Cashel Street along: the back of other shops fronting on Colombo Street, in a right-of-way, at the hack of the A 1 Hotel, and off. - the wooden shops iu another part of; Colombo Street—threatened by the., big fire on Thursday last in the right-of-way below the United Service Hotel, between Hereford Streetand Gatheedral Square, and in the. Press ofiice right of-way. In semes instances kerosene and fat had been ’ added to give the fires a good start. All the outbreaks were promptly suppressed, and the police have the matter in-hand.