THE FIREBRAND.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 691, 16 December 1909, Page 8

THE FIREBRAND.

■ ——♦ ■ • ■.-. SCHOOLS BURNED IN AUCKLAND DISTRICT. f'A WAVE OP INCENDIARISM." IDy Telocranb.-Prcas Aaaoclatton.l . Auckland, December 15. Tho frequency with which school property goes up in flame and smoko was the subject of a discussion at the Education Board to-day ! . Tho chairman (Mr. C. J. Parr) brought the matter up by drawing attention to the extraordinary number of such accidents of late to their school buildings. It was a question, l\o said, whether the Department should not bo asked to iusuro these, buildings. In one of their districts in tho far north there were clear ■ evidences of a system of incendiarism directed against the board's property. ; Some littlo time ago two attempts, fortunately unsuccessful, were made to burn down tho teacher's house at Awanui. Then at Awhata, some littlo distance away, an unsuccessful attempt was made on tho school. A few weeks later, however, another attempt was made, and this time the building was burned to tho ground. The board then' took a' cottage, equipped it, and the school was about to start again when tho incendiary again got to work and the cottage was destroyed. Only a few days later the board engaged the Maori Church, hoping that this building would bo safe, but again the firebrand effected its nefarious purpose, so that Awhata was left schoolless for the time. Then came'tho turn of tho Hcrekino School, only four miles; from Awhata,' and although detectives and a Departmental inquiry had investigated tho fires,, nothing more was established than that there scorned without doubt to be a wave of incendiarism against the board's property in that district. Ho (tho chairman) could also say that since tho occasion he had mentioned, an attempt had been made to burn down tho timber mill in the same district; Tho whole business revealed an extraordinary state of things which, for the sake of public safety, he hoped'would be probed to tho bottom. (t "And now this morning," added Mr. Parr, 'I have received a wiro to say that the Greerton School, near Tauranga, has been burned down. It seems to bo getting almost chronic, these school fires. I would suggest that tile I'inance Committee consider the advisablencss or otherwise of mailing provision by insurance against fires." ; . Mr. Edgocumbe thought it was a matter entirely for -the Department; '•Mr. Parr: Yes, but wo aro the custodians for tho Department's property,,and it is right that we should make some recommendation. Mr. Garland contended that ho had always been against tho non-insurance of schools. The buildings represented public money, and should be insured against loss. Were they private property thoy would all bo insured. : Mr. Edgecumbe expressed tho opinion that the Department saved money by being its own underwriter. "Insurance would probably run it into .85000 or a year.. ,It paid the Department to tako the risk. ■ ■'.*■. Tho chairman said it was a most, disquieting feature that-many of the fires Were tho undoubted result of incendiarism, It pointed to a low moral tone when they found men setting fire-to. schools. What harm- did a school do to anyone?' ; Ho ventured to say that nine out of ton buddings.they lost by fire-were the result of design, and not of accident. It was-a de- : plorable indication of a low and vicious moral tendency.. . -- . ■ Mr. Harris: I propose, Mr. Chairman, that a' reward ol ,6100 be offered for information leadto'the conviction of tho offender. Ultimately it was decided to offer a .£SO reward for evidonco which would secure the codyictmn of the persons responsible for tho burning down of the Awhata and Horekino Schools.