FIRE AT WAITAKI HIGH SCHOOL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 309, 23 September 1920, Page 4

FIRE AT WAITAKI HIGH SCHOOL

« NEAV WING DESTROYED. J>y Telcsrapli—PrcEß Association. Oamaru, September 22. A disastrous fire occurred at tlicWaitiiki Boys' High School this morning. \VJien tlie fire was discovered, about 1 o'clock, it had a strong hold, and as the water supply \vas hnuted to a lMn. pipe, the fire brigade was unable to render any assistance. By means of the school's hoses and buckets, tho masteia and'pupils and volunteers succeeded in preventing the fire extending from the now wing, where it originated, to tlio other portions of the buildings. The part destroyed included the art room, with a comprehensive stock or models, etc.'; the homo science rooms with a big stock of chemicals and elaborate paraphernalia; and class/rooms and music rooms. Ine school cups and trophies, and a great collection of valuable pictures the property of tho rector, with which tho walls of tho rooms and corridors wero adorned, were lost. The building is of Oamaru 6tone f and tho vails of a lnrg® 1 part arc still standing. Other portions were blown out by the explosion . of chemicals in the laboratory. Tho workers succeeded in saving a good deal of the contents, but much that is irreplacablo was destroyed, lho total iloss cannot' yet be determined, but it is likely to reach fully .£IO,OOO. The loss is partly covered by insurance. 'The school only resumed yesterday after the term vacation. o\er two, hundred bovs wero in residence. .Lho dormitories and a number of class rooms and the boarding part of the school "\vert; untouched, <vnd it* is hoped to be able to carry on work. lho origin of the fire is a mystery. The wing destroyed contained four class rooms, four laboratories, tho art room, and six small music rooms. The original cost, when first furnished, was and the total insurance on the wing 3 'was *3000, divided between the Victoria and Yorkshire offices. The fire Appears to lmvo originated above tho ceiling, in a class room adjoining the nrt room. All rooms had been cxhm. ined shortly before 10 o'clock, and everything then appeared to bo all right. A meeting of the board this morning arranged for temporary means for caiTying on the school work, and preliminary 6teps wero taken towards the reinstatement of the wing. Bo Prepared. Insure with Tlie Tnsurnncc Office of Australia (The "1.0.A."). All - claims settled without vexatious delay, n Wellington Office, 33 Johnston Street.—Advt.