SUSPICIOUS FIRES.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 154, 1 July 1924, Page 6

SUSPICIOUS FIRES.

OUTBREAKS AT WHANGAIREL (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

WHANGAREI, this day.

I Mysterious and suspicious circumstances surround the fire reported yesterday to have occurred in a building in course of erection here for Mr. L. W. Nelson, the back part of the house being gutted and the front rooms damaged by smoke and water. The building is one of two cottages removed from Keotahi, near Whangarei Heads. Suspicion was aroused after the flames had been extinguished by a smell of kerosene, but this was explained by a statement that hurricane lamps used on the road had been stored in the house and that some of the oil had been spilled. However, another mysterious fire was discovered shortly afterwards in a second cottage. The damage in this instance was slight, but investigation showed that some papers and sticks in a built-in cupboard bad been on fire. The fire had burned itself out, leaving nothing worse than charred walls. There has been a good deal of objection to the action of the Borough Council in allowing the re-erection in the township of houses removed from Reotahi.