ANOTHER FIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 August 1916, Page 3

ANOTHER FIRE.

HIGH SCHOOL PRACTICALLY DESTROYED. FIRE BRIGADE SAVES BOARDING ESTABLISHMENT. SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES. Shortly before four o'clock yesterday morning, boarders in the High School saw from their dormitory flames arising from the Gymnasium near by. They promptly gave the alarm, but the fire had a good bold and buckets were out of the question. The Fire Brigade was called, and was promptly on the scene. There was a strong south-westerly i wind blowing carrying the flames on to the neighbouring class rooms. Superintendent Bellriuger saw at a glance that it was hopeless to save this section of the building. He was concerned more with limiting the fire and preventing it catching the Principal's bouse and boarding establishment. The Brigade therefore turned its attention to ilieso parts. The water pressure, for some ivason that has to be explained, was not particularly strong, whilst the Brigade had only three or four heads to play on the fire. The boarding section was built practically in concrete, and this assisted the Brigade in saving it. Between the burning buildings and this building tberu was only thirty yards space, and here the fire fighters concentrated iheir efforts?*

They dived right into the burning class rooms, regardless of the smoke and the approaching flames, and vigorously attacked the fire. On the sea side of the building the brigadesmen were also cooperating energetically. The wind fanned the fire, which came sweeping on, licking up the water as if it were petrol. The brigadesmen approached closer, and very soon turned the tide in their favor. They soon had the flames under control, and all the danger of the neighboring buildings catching was at an end. The last wing was saved absolutely and with it the preparatory building near bv.

There are some suspicious circum stances connected with the fire. On the Wednesday evening previously, whilst the boys were at tea, an attempt was: made to burn down the preparatory building. Paper and other inflammable material had been placed under or near six desks, and three' were ablaze when the fire was discovered. Happily it was discovered in time. There was no doubt about it being an attempt at incendiarism, and the matter was put in the hands of the police and no publicity given tc it. Later on, some posts that had been put in by the masters were pulled up. This showed that an enemy was at work, and a careful watch was set. Generally an inspection is made by a member of the teaching staff each night after the scholars go to bed, but on account of the malicious acts just mentioned, the inspection was made more thorough. On Sunday night—it was really Monday morning—one of the masters visited tin.' gymnasium building, as well as the other buildings, and found things alright. Two hours or so afterwards the place was ablaze from end to end. The Headmaster (Mr. Moyes) fortunately had the school registers, etc., in bis house, but all the school books were destroyed. The value of these is estimated at over £OOO. To replace them will be no easy matter. The scholars lost their books, as well as cameras and other effects. The masters too, lost valuable books and records. The contents of some of the class room were salved, and whilst the fire was threatening the boarding establish ment, a host of willing workers transferred the more valuable contents to places of safety. The school was to have broken up for the term holidays on Thursday. In view of the fire it has been decided to break up right away. The new boarding house, fortunately, is almost out of the builders' bands. Niger House, which has been used as an overflow boarding house, will be freed as soon as the new place is ready. It is probable Niger House, which contains some large, airy rooms, will be used as

a temporary schoo 1 . -With the two rooms saved, the preparatory buildings intact, and the dining room in the present boarding house available, the school will be able to carry on pending the rebuilding of the school. The insurances total £3(100. They are as follows: On the school buildings £2750 (Standard £1475, Atlas £250, New Zealand £1025); apparatus, £l5O in the Standard; furniture, £2OO (Standard £IOO, British Dominions £100). Gymnasium £SOO (Phoenix £4OO, Guardian £400). Jt is estimated that the loss will exceed £OOOO. The school buildings destroyed were valued at £4OOO, the gymnasium at over £IOOO. The latter contained two pianos, a marquee, and all the gymnasium, furnishings, and apparatus, valued at considerably over £2OO. The furniture of the school was valued at £3OO, and the chemical apparatus at £350. /""" The school boys are heavy losers, all their books, and, in many cases, cameras being completely destroyed. The Honors Board, which was in the gymnasium, was also completely destroyed. Another loss on which it is difficult to place an intrinsic value is the loss of the results of school experiments, etc., in the science room. Rome idea of the intense heat may be gained from the fact that the school bell in the tower was completely fired. An effort is being made to organise an indoor musical recital at the Coronation Hall, next Friday, to provide funds to recoup the boys who lost their books and effects. Mr. McLeod (the bandmaster), and Mr. J. B. Hill have the matter in hand. The physics laboratory was in the main part of the building, and completely destroyed. It will not be easy to reinstate the plant. The gymnasium was built in 1914, and the science laboratory in 1008.