Police probe school fires

Press, 17 April 1978, Page 2

Police probe school fires

PA Palmerston North The police are investigating the cause of two school fires in Palmerston North early on Saturday. Both schools, the Highbury and Awapuni primary schools, have been damaged in separate attacks by an arsonist over the last few weeks. However, as with the earlier fires, most damage was done on Saturday to the Highbury school. Saturday’s ; fire destroyed the school hall, and three classrooms, including a year-old library. On April 11 another I serious fire had gutted two

classrooms and the rear of the assembly hall. Firemen were diverted from the Highbury school fire on Saturday to another fire at the Awapuni school but that fire was not as serious.

A curtain had been set alight inside a classroom which dropped on to a chair, causing minor damage to the room. It is believed the fire was started by pushing a louvre window open and lighting the curtain. The fire went out on its own.

The fire brigade was alerted to the Highbury school about 4.30 a.m. Mr T. S. Mihaere, chairman of the school committee since its establishment in

1963, said one of the biggest losses was the library. Since it was begun a year ago, many books had been given by firms and persons, and he estimated there was $5OOO to $6OOO worth of damage in the library. He said the assembly hall was built about 12 years ago at a cost of $16,000. It contained a lot of equipment, which parents had helped contribute by giving about $2OOO a year for various teaching aids.

As well, the Highbury Bowling Club, which has hired the hall for the last eight years, lost seven sets of bowls and eight bowling mats, as well as other equipment, valued about $2lOO.