NAPIER FIRES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 29, 5 January 1931, Page 3

NAPIER FIRES.

BLAZE IN CHURCH

LABOURER ARRESTED

Per Press Association. NAPIER. Jan. 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 the first case slight damage was done to St. Patrick’s Churo'.i, a very large wooden building ill Alunio Streer., and in the second case an unlcnantea 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 vciriity, and on the arrival of the brigade, it was discovered that the steps and flooring at a side entrance were alight. The flames were exting.lishcd before any very extensive damage was done. Early on Saturday afternoon tlie police arrested a labourer named Samuel Hazlett, who was suosoqueo.' ly charged with arson and remanded to January 12. The unoccupied six-roomed house was in Harvey Road, Napier, and was the property of Airs Rowell, of Napier. The back part of the house was well alight when the brigade arrived. Some delay occurred in locating a fire plug, and when it was 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 a scarred skeleton of the house remained. The building was insured for £llOO. When the brigade reached the 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 police are investigating.