FIRES AT NAPIER

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 11405, 5 January 1931, Page 3

FIRES AT NAPIER

1 SUSPECTED INCENDIARISM

LABORER ARRESTED AFTER ONE OUTBREAK.

(Press Association;) NAPIER, Jart. 4. Two fires, which appear to have been the outcome of incendiarism, occurred in Napier on Saturday, one in the, early;. hours .of the morning, and the other late at night. In tlfe'first case slight damaged.was done to St. Patrick’s Church, a very large wooden building in Munro St., and in the. second case, an untenanted house of six .rooms was completely gutted. . .••' The fire at the ’Catholic church was first noticed shortly before 3 a.m. by a resident in the vicinity, and, on the arrival-of the brigade, it was discovered that t-hfc steps and flooring at the side entrance were alight. The flames were extinguished before any very extensive damage was done. Early tin Saturday afternoon the police arrested a laborer named Samuel Hazlett, who -was subsequently charged with arson, and remanded to January 12. , ...

In the second case, an unoccupied six-roomed house in Harvey road, Napier, the property'of Mrs,. Rowell, of .Napier, was completely gutted by fire late on Saturday' night. The back part of the house was well alight when the brigade arrived. Some delay occurred, in locatin.tr the fire plug, and when found,, the water pressure- was not very good, otherwise,., the .outbreak might have been ■checked more -readily. \ As it was, when the flames were, subdued, little .beyond. the scarred skeleton of the house remained. The building was insured for £ll6O in the Mercantile and General Office. When the bri-

gade reached'thri house, the fire appeared to have been started in two places, and whereas the doors and windows had been locked .since the place was vacated some weeks ago one window was up about six inches. Fusing of the electric wires was not ■possible,- since the current' had been cut off. The polico are investigating.

Proetect yourself against losses by fire by. insuring with the Norwich Onion Fire Insurance Society. Ltd.— W. Lissant Clayton.*