HEAVY FINES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 29, 4 February 1939, Page 9

HEAVY FINES

i PERSONS WHO LIT FIRES. i SEQUEL TO DESTRUCTION IN VICTORIA. > Received Feb. 4. 1 a.m. I MELLO URNL, Feb. 3. 1 Arising from the recent bush fires, 20 persons were charged ir the r'erntree 1 Gully Court to-day with having lit ■ fires in proclaimed areas during proclaimed periods. Fines were imposed ' ranging from £lO io £JS, and several cases were adjourned. Another case concerned a youth ’ who was said by a constable to be subnormal. He was remanded for seven days. The police alleged that ' he had said he wanted to burn out 1 a man because he was always picking at him. Several of the men fined said they : lit fires to burn breaks to protect their properties. A schoolboy, aged 18 years, a wellknown firelighter, who said he was . unaware that the regulations applied to burning rubbish, was fined £lO. Inquests into the deaths ot two fire . victims at Toolangi opened at Helensi ville to-day and adjourned, the coroner stating that the person who caused the fires might yet find himself charged with manslaughter. Evidence was given tht this fire later spread to Narbethong, where it caused the deaths of six people.