INCENDIARISM!

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10011, 6 April 1910, Page 5

INCENDIARISM!

SERIOUS FIRES, "PALMERrfTON NORTH THROWN I INTO A GREAT STATE OF I EXCITEMENT." POWELKA BELIEVED TO BE THE PERPETRATOR. By Telegraph—Press As c ociation. PALMERSTON N., April 5. Palmerston North has been thrown into a state of great excitement throughout the evening by extraordinary scenes of mysterious fires. About eight o'clock the fire bells suddenly rang out an alarm, as fires had blazed out at the Palmerston Boys' High School, at the northern end of the town. These presented a fine range of wooden buildings, and the school has been one of the best and most successful on the West Coast. It has been managed by a special local Board of Governors, apart from the Education Board, and was a very popular institution with nearly two thousand students. The flames spread through the main buildings with extraordinary rapidity, and thousands of people gathered, and groups of students and men carried out furniture wherever possible, while the Fire Brigade strove to localise the fire. It was soon evident that it was impossible to save the main building, and this was totally destroyed, but the Brigade saved the cookery and art building, and gymnasium. The buildings were insured for £2,175 in the Phoenix office, but it will cost another £I,OOO over that to re-instate. While the High School fire was at its height fresh flames were seen rising from the centre of the tcwn on the south side of the Square. This proved to be the workshops, factory, etc., at Pegden's new turniture warehouse. This fire was in a thick nest of buildings. Residents, and as many of the Brigade as could leave the other fire, raced across the intervening half mile or so, and this fire was successfully confined to the workshops, stables, etc. The insurances are nut yet known. Soon after a further blaze was seen arising on the east side of the Square, when the Brigade had judt go the last fire under, at Millar and Giorei's mercery establishment,

POWELKA. Powelka lias not yet been caught, and there are all sorts of rumours concerning him. Extra, police are being requisitioned from Wanganui, and though searches are being continued. The police here have been continuously on the move for the last week, but as Powelka never goes out by day it is difficult to find him at night. LATER. There is practical certainty that to-riiijht's fires were the result of incendiarism. The fire at the High School was discovered by Leet, the caretaker, and was blazing up the lower storey of the building at the back. The first alarm was given by Leet ringing the school bell. The fire at Pegden's as, also, discovered when in an advanced stage. The fire at Millar and Giorgi's is now put out, and has re-'lted in damage to a large stock, but .tie damage to the building. It has been discovered that a window in the right-of-way had been forced, and the incendiarist had entered by it when opened and fired the stock. There is a strong belief that the fires are connected wilh Powelka, and that he is hiding in 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. Pegden's bulk store was insured fo»--A'100 on the buii' ! "ip, find £3OO on the stock, in the Yorkshire Company.