DISASTROUS FIRES

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 December 1945, Page 4

DISASTROUS FIRES

BOY’S COSTLY MISCHIEF WHANGAREI, December 11. A thirteen-years-old boy, charged at the Whangarei children’s court de - nied wilfully setting fire to a store, timber mill and motor garage on three dates, at Omahuta, North Hokianga. As the result of the fires, a store valued at £6OO, a mill valued at £15,000 were completely destroyed, and one hundred and thirty residents of the mill settlement deprived of the means of support, the Kauri Timber Company having decided against rebuilding. In a statement after the third fire, the boy admitted to the police lighting all three because he wanted to see the buildings blazing, and men rushing about. Counsel considered . the boy was trapped into making the statement, but Mr. Harley, S.M., ruled that the police inquiries had been properly made. . The boy in evidence stated tnat the police threatened to pull his nose off if he didn’t tell the truth, causing him to become frightened and make the admissions which were false. The magistrate said he didn’t know how much, of the boy’s story was lies, but he was satisfied that the boy set fire to a tractor shed containing plant worth £12,000. For this the boy was placed under supervision of the Child Welfare Department for two years, a condition being that he attend an Auckland boys’ school for the first year. Other charges were dismissed. “I can’t send him back to Omahuta,” Mr. Harley said. “If I did, there might be a riot.” ,