HOUSE DESTROYED.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XVII, Issue 1647, 11 March 1922, Page 5

HOUSE DESTROYED.

OCCUPANT TALKS INDISCREETLY IS ARRESTED FOR ARSON. A five-roomed dwelling on the Awakino Road was completely destroyed by fire on Thursday night. The building was said to be the oldest in Te Kuiti, and was built by the late G. S. Otway, whose estate is now being administered by the Public Trustee.

The house has been occupied for the last 12 months by Charles Campbell, a married man with seven children. A distress warrant was executed by Sergeant Fearnley on behalf of the Public Trustee on the day of the fire, and Campbell and his family were ejected from the house, owing

to heavy arrears of rent. About 9.35 p.m. some members of the Te Kuiti Fire Brigade noticed smoke issuing from the dwelling,, and

at once got under way with a reel and 700 ft of hose. They were actually on their way when the alarm was sounded at 9.40 p.m. The house which was built of white pine, and which was known to be infested with the borer, burnt like tinder, and on the arrival of the brigade the flames had so strong a hold of the house that any furniture was removed under difficulties. It was then seen there was no hope of saving the building, which was completely gutted in thirty minutes. The building was insured for £250 in the London and Lancashire Office.

Sergeant Fearnley was amongst the onlookers, and on hearing Campbell, who appeared to be somewhat undo’ the influence of liquor, making some violently boastful statements in connection with the outbreak, promptly arrested him. On Friday morning, before Mr W. D. Hattaway, J.P., Campbell was formally charged with wilfully setting fire to the premises. On the application of the police, accused was remanded for eight days. Bail was fixed at £IOO0 —accused’s own recognisance of £SOO and two sureties of £250 each.