HEDGES DESTROYED

Northern Advocate, 6 February 1934, Page 8

HEDGES DESTROYED

BRIGADE HAS BUSY TIME. INCENDIARISM SUSPECTED. < Per Press Association. —Copyright.) INVERCARGILL, This Day. Early on -Sunday morning the Gladstone district was the scene of several fires in hedges, and the brigade had a very busy time in suppressing the outbreaks.

The first conflagration at 2.4 o’clock was in Don Stre6t, where a hedge, fence and gate were fairly badly damaged. The next call was to a fence and hedge in Leet Street. Two minutes later there was a summons to Mr O, J. Brodvick’s in Upper Kelvin Street, where 50ft. of hedge and many fine trees were burned, A hedge at the corner of Russel and Herbert Streets, a little further north, next claimed the attention of the firemen, but it was -severely damaged before the brigade could got the fire in hand.

The firemen then hurried to the corner of Russel Street and Holywood Terrace, where 70 feet of hedge was burning. Two minutes later they were called to Dee Street, about a quarter of a mile away. After suppressing another outbreak to a hedge in Avenal Road at 2.30., they went home to bed. Large gaps were made in the hedges by the fires and, apart from the monetary loss, the destruction is particularly exasperating, for it will take years before the hedges can be properly reinstated. .

The superintendent of the fire brigade expressed the opinion that the acts were those of some irresponsible crank on a bicycle, rattier than those of a party of youths on mischief bent.