CHOPPED WOOD AND SACKING FOUND

Northern Advocate, 12 June 1937, Page 6

CHOPPED WOOD AND SACKING FOUND

Dargaville Primary School Fire Investigation [Special to “Northern Advocate ”] DARGAVILLE, This Day. | Investigations into the fire which; broke out at the Dargaville Primary School on Thursday evening showed the presence under the school of timber which was not there previously, and also a quantity of sacking. The outbreak started in the fourth standard classroom in the western wing of the school. The fire gained a hold at the end of a bookcase standing near the door. Newly Chopped Wood. The flames travelled upward, and finallybroke through the doorway, spreading to the upper portion of the western and middle parts of the building. Yesterday morning, pieces of timber, newly chopped with an axe, were found lying beneath the most charred portion of the .building and of a different kind from any used in the building. Pieces of charred sacking were also discovered.

It r ,is thought probable that lighted timber was inserted inside the outer boards. It 'is -difficult to determine whether any of the weather-boards and base-boards had been removed prior to the outbreak as the firemen had hacked portion away during the fire. School Work Suspended. Yesterday mbrning school work was suspended, but the classrooms, with the exception of that which was burned, will all be in use again, as it is not considered the roof is in a dangerous condition. Members of the Auckland Edcation Board are in Dargaville, investigating and considering what steps should be taken. The cause of the outbreak is being investigated by the police. Tiie committee and teachers have taken the precautipn to insure their effects, the committee to the extent of £2OO 'and the teachers to lesser amounts up to £SO. i