THE CHRISTCHURCH FIRES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2117, 17 February 1908, Page 2

THE CHRISTCHURCH FIRES.

SUSPECTED MAN RELEASED. POLICE OPINION. Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Peb. 15. Two young men, Petor Power and Edward Power, were each lined £o, in default one month, to-day, on charges of stealing a quantity of drapery belonging to the Wellington Woollen Company and Gott Pros., on file night of the big tiro last week. Tho various incipient tires discovered in Christchurch on Thursday evening caused a great deal of alarm amongst business people in the city, and stringent measures were taken to guard their premises. yesterday Serge int Jiurrovyes detained a halt-caste, who was believed to be concerned in the outbreak at the rear of Mr. Andrews shop. It was stated that this man visited Mr. Andrews’ shop and asked ioi some matches just prior to the hro occurring in the Al Hotel nght-of-waj. Ur. Andrews identilied the mm, but as the police had not sufficient evidence to connect him with tho lue, he was allow'd! liis liberty. The nolice are inclined to the opinion that the incendiary is a maniac, or some irresponsible youth, vmo wants to witness a fire similar to tho one which ruined a number ot business premises last week. It is stated that the fire which destroyed several large building premises about a week ago had its oiiginjf inside a door abutting on to a riglit-J}. of-way, and since then scarcely fyt night lias passed without the being called out, This is, perha.de a coincidence, as the circumsta/fis, connected with the fires whwr.ices curred between Thursday oclast Thursday do not giyejr-k allti the suspicion of inccndiarisy rise to A ROARDING-HOUf STROYEDjfSE DECHRI6TCHUR A ten-roomed hous^-^^T^" Avonside, owned liy Cox } lea d, and let as a joar as totally destroyed by l/£ a)jout ±3Q t y g morning. Only a/ rtion 0 f the furniture was saved/