TELEGRAMS. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. COPYRIGHT.] SUSPECTED INCENDIARISM

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LVI, Issue LVI, 15 April 1909, Page 5

TELEGRAMS. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. COPYRIGHT.]

SUSPECTED INCENDIARISM

THE SOUTH CANTERBURY CO-OP.

FIRE.

£PRE3S ASSOCIATION.] TIMARU, April 15.

An enqiziry into the fire which destroyed the Farmers' Co-op, building was held by the .directors yesterday, but nothing definite was elicited, except that every care had been taken to extinguish the lights. The man employed as cleaner and caretaker saw the last of the workers out and went round after them. He suggested that fire had been thrown in through a broken window, but this was on the ground floor, and other evidence showed that the fire commenced on the third floor. The witness considered the fire was not accidental. The directors decided to offer a reward of £50 for information as to the origin of the fire, and £200 for the conviction of an incendiary. This was the fourth fire, and the third heavy loss the Farmers' Co-op, have had. The whole of the Geraldine store and two retail stores in Timaru have been destroyed.