MYSTERIOUS FIRES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 356, 6 April 1910, Page 5

MYSTERIOUS FIRES.

THREE oI'TUKEAKS AT PALMERSTON. HIGH SCHOOL* DESTROYED. IS IT POWELKA? i By Telegraph.—Press Association. Pamierston North, Last Night. Palmerston lias been thrown into a state of great excitement throughout the evening by the extraordinary scenes ol mysterious lires. At about 8 o'clock the lire bells suddenly rang out an alarm, as lires Had blazed out at the Palmersion Boys' Jiigh School at tiie northern end of tne town. These presented a line range of wooden buildings. The ilaiucs spread through the main buildings with extraordinary rapidity. Thousands of people gathered. While the lire brigade strove to localise the lire, it was soon evident that it was impossible to save the mam building, and this was totally destroyed, but the brigade saved the cookery and art building and gymnasium buildings, which Avere insured for £2175 in the Phoenix, but it will cost another £IOOO over that to reinstate the school, which will be transferred to the tine new technical building on Thursday. While the High School fire was at its height fresh flames were seen rising from the centre of the town on the south side of the s'quare. . This proved to be the workshops, factory, etc., «tt Pidgen's new furniture warehouse. This was in a thick nest of buildings of residences, and as many of the brigade as could leave the other tire raced across the intervening half mile or so, and this' .fire was successfully confined to the workshops, stables, etc. The insurances arc hot yet known. Soon afterwards n further blaze was s'een arising on the east side of the Square at Millar and Giorgi's mercery establishment.' This the Brigade got under.

Powelka has not yet been caught, and there are all sorts of rumours concerning him. Extra police are being requisitioned from Wanganui, and a thorough search is being made. The police here have been continuously on the move lor the last week, but he never goes out by day, and it is difficult to find him at night. It is practically certain that to-night's fires' were the result of incendiarism.

The fire at the High School was discovered by Mr Leet, caretaker, and was blazing up the lower storey of the buildins at the back.

The first alarm was given by Mr Lect ringing the s'ohoo! bpll. The fire at Pegden's was also discovered in an advanced stage. The Are at Millar and Oinrsris. now put out, has resulted in damage to a large stock. l>ut there is little damage to the building. Tt has been discovered that a window in the right-of-way had been forced, and an incendiary had entered by it and fired the stock.

There ia strong belief that the fires are connected with Ppwelka and that he is hiding in the town, and that while the crowds were away at the High School fire he started the others. The town is in a state of unrest.

Peahen's hulk store was insured for £IOO on the Imilrtinsr and €3OO on the stock in the Yorkshire compnny.