SERIOUS FIRES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 80, 6 April 1910, Page 2

SERIOUS FIRES.

UNEXPLAINED OUTBREAKS AT PALMERSTON. HIGH SCHOOL AND BUSINESS PLACES SUFFER. TOWNSPEOPLE IN A STATE OF EXCITEMENT. [BI TELEGRAPH — SPECIAL TO THE POST.] PALMERSTOX N., This Day. What is believed to have been the systematic work of an incendiary threw Palmerston into a condition of nervous excitement last night. Within three hours no less than three big fires occurred in various parts of the town, taxing in the highest degree the resources of Ijhe fire brigade and the water supply. As the town clock chimed eight, the first alarm was given-, an outbreak being reported from the High School, about a quarter of a mile distant. A passer-by discovered the fire at the rear of tho building and summoned the brigade, but the flames had a great hold when it arrived. Despite all efforts the central portion and eastern wing were completely destroyed. Within an hour two-thirds of the school were a smoking heap of ruins. The gymnasium and the girls' recrea tion room in, a detached building were saved; and the art section and science room in the western wing were unscathed. All the school records were destroyed. The person who discovered the fire says he noticed a pane of glass had been cut out of one ot the windows and tho fire was burning in the corner of the boys' lavatory. The buildings were insured for £2175 in the Phoenix, but it will cost another £100 over that to reinstate. The school will be transferred to the fine new technical building on Thursday. A SECOND ALARM. At 8.30, while the brigade was exerting every effort at the High School, a second alarm and a brilliant illumination in the direction of the town indicated that there was another outbreak there. A detachment of the brigade was con veyed in motor cars to the scene, which pioved to be the rear portion of W. Pegden's furniture warehouse, an old dry wooden structure. The flames had ■ almost enveloped th« building, which was of two storeys. The bulk store, stables, and upholstering department were completely destroyed, but the firemen were successful in preserving Pegden's large new warehouse adjoining and several wooden buildings in close proximity. There was no evidence as to the origin of the fire, as it had made great progress when discovered. Mr. Pegden's bulk-store was insured for £100 on the building, and £300 on the stock in the Yorkshire Company. BRIGADE SUMMONED A THIRD TIME. Within an hour tho almost exhausted firemen were summoned a third time. A great volume of smoke with splashes of flam-s. issuing from the temporary premises of Millar and Giorgi, mercers, on the western side of theSquaie, proclaimed that a fire had a good hold of the building The brigade, however, soon had the outbreak in hand, but gueat damage was done to the interior and the stock by water. In this case it is stated that a window had been broken at the rear of the premises and the fire started under the staircase. The fires were watched by thousands of spectators. Much regret is expressed at the destruction of the High School. The undoubted evidences of incendiarism nave caused much uneasiness, and some business men remained on their premises all night, or arranged for extra watchmen.