INCENDIARY THIEVES RANSACK AND BURN MAYOR’S RESIDENCE

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6972, 27 July 1929, Page 6

INCENDIARY THIEVES RANSACK AND BURN MAYOR’S RESIDENCE

Four Fires Started REV. .1 K. ARCHER’S HOME ENTERED IN ABSENCE EVERY WINDOW OPENED. Per Press Association. ■ CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. An attempt was made to-night to burn down the residence ot‘ the Mayor, the Rev. J. K. Archer. The house was not totally destroyed but damage to t e extent of £2OO or £3OO was done. The loss is covered by insurance. Mr. Archer was attending a dinner in connection with the Canterbury Rugby Union jubilee celebrations, when he received a telephone message that his house was on tire. He dashed home and found the brigade already busy with a serious fire. Good work was done in saving the house from destruction.

There was ample evidence that the fire was of incendiary origin._ Every room had been ransaked and tires had been started in four rooms. In Mr. Archer's study and library, all the drawers had been pulled open and the contents strew-n on the floor. A pile of papers had been put down beside the desk and set on fire but fortunately, little damage was done here, for Mr. Archer’s library is a valuable one. In other rooms, all likely places for valuables had been searched thoroughly. In the dining room, a lire started there did much damage, the room being completely gutted. In the kitchen, a pile of furniture and pictures had been thrown together and the pile ignited. A tire had also been started in one bedroom. Every window in (he house had been thrown open, probably to allow the breeze to fan the flames.