MORE DAMAGE BY FIRE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 733, 5 August 1929, Page 11

MORE DAMAGE BY FIRE

CHRISTCHURCH BOATSHEDS SUFFER DETECTIVES INVESTIGATING j (Special to THE SUN) CHRISTCHURCH, Today. ! Detectives are investigating a fire which almost completely de- I stroyed the old wooden boatsheds ; near the Montreal Street bridge at about 7.30 on Saturday evening. So far no announcement has been made. The fire was first seen by the proprietor of a fish-shop in Oxford Terrace on the other side of the River Avon. He telephoned for the brigade, but the old woodwork of the shed was burning furiously by the time help arrived. The flames were got under control within, a short time, but great damage had been done, only parts of the frame being left. Apparently the fire broke out in the north-west corner of the building, where there was a fair amount of furniture?. All the doors and windows were found securely fastened. Ten rowing-boats and canoes were destroyed and a quantity of carved wood belonging to the owner of the shed, Mi*. Harry Wilson, was also burned. Two boats and five canoes were saved. A SUSPICIOUS INCIDENT An incident occurred between 10 and 10.30 on Saturday night which may have a possible bearing on the cause of the fire at the Montreal Street boatsheds. Earlier, at the larger of the boatsheds, owned by Mr. J. H. Shaw, in Antigua Street, two men were seen to try the doors. A passer-by came along, and the men, who were well dressed, ran away and jumped into a motor-car waiting in Cambridge Terrace. A strict watch was maintained after this. NO VIGILANCE COMMITTEE COMMISSIONER REASSURING Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, Today. A reassuring statement regarding the wave of incendiarism was made by the Commissioner of Police, Mr. W. D. Mcilveney, yesterday. “Within the next day or two the position will be so satisfactory from a police point of view that there will be no need tor public anxiety,” said the commissioner. “The public can rest well assured that the police force in Christchurch is being organised on a systematic basis." The (commissioner added that the force here had been substantially strengthened. He said there was no present possibility of the police requiring the services of a vigilance committee composed of civilians.