FIRE AT WAIOURU

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 August 1940, Page 5

FIRE AT WAIOURU

NEW CAMP MESS BUILDING DESTROYED ACT OF INCENDIARISM SUSPECTED. DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT OVER £6OOO. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WANGANUI. August 28. Fire which the police believe to have been the work oi' an incendiary destroyed the messrooin. in course of construct ion at the new Wai-oui-u military cam]) between midnight and 1 a.m. yesterday. The damage is estimated at between £6OOO and £7OOO.

The outbreak was not discovered till the flames had a firm hold. A number of carpenters and labourers at the camp worked hard to prevent the spread of the fire. Nothing could be done, however, to save the building. The police are investigating. The building destroyed was situated at the extreme east of several other camp buildings and it was fortunate that the wind, which had been easterly not long before, turned westerly. Other buildings were saved by the change of wind and were not damaged. One of the largest buildings in the camp, the messroom was constructed to aT. design. It had a concrete flooring, and had not been quite finished. It was built of new timber, which had only just been seasoned. The fireplaces in the buildings had never been used.

When three workmen engaged on the building, the last .to leave, stopped work on Tuesday night, everything was in order. Shortly after midnight a red glow indicated that the building was well alight. No water pressure system is in operation at the camp, and those who responded to an alarm of fire were unable to save the building. Detective J, Murray, of Wanganui, and Constables S. H. Cave and C. Stewart, of Ohakune, are investigating.

MINISTER’S BELIEF

EVIDENCE OF TREACHERY. DENUNCIATION OF “FIFTH COLUMN.” (By Telegraph—Press Association.) GREYMOUTH, August 28. An announcement that he had been advised by the chief engineer of the Public Works Department that mess accommodation in course of construction for 850 men at Waiouru Military Camp was destroyed by fire at midnight last night was made by the Minister of National Service, Mr Semple, addressing a public meeting of local body representatives in Greymouth tonight. Mr Semple said that the building cost more than £BOOO and he was told that there was grave suspicion of treachery. He said he was of opinion that it could not happen in any other way, as no fires or electric light were installed. “We have a Fifth Column in this, country,” said Mi’ Semple. “It is not strong, but it is here, and the best way to stop it is to organise men and women so that they can find out where it is. You’ll find out where the traitors are. If you do. let us know and we will let them know where they’ll be, too. ; “Apart altogether from the defence of the Dominion, for God’s sake get together and blot out treachery in this country.”