Fires at Awanui.

Northland Age, Volume V, Issue 23, 1 February 1909, Page 4

Fires at Awanui.

Awanui Scared.

Scansie’s New Store Destroyed

Incendiarism Rampant.

About 3.30 a.m. on Friday Mr. Scansie’s new store at, Awanui was found to be in flames. Mr. Scansie, who was sleeping in the building, had only time to jump out of bed and throw his books out of a window before the building was enveloped and in a very few minutes the fire fiend had converted what was a fine building, an ornament to the Awanui, into a heap of smoking ruins.

The outbreak was as sudden as it was awful. The fire was scarcely noticed before it bad complete grip of the building. It was apparent that its origin was under the building and it was clear to all onlookers that if the destructive agent were the result of accident it was marvellous accident indeed. Everyone whom we have been able to interrogate holds the opinion that the fire at Scansie’s store, commencing as it did at the centre of the back of the structure and where there was little of an inflammable nature to cause a conflagration, was the deliberate work of some evilly disposed person or persons and in no way attributable to either negligence or accident.

All those who know Mr. Scansie will join with us in expressing sincere regret at his very serious loss, for he has been steadily rising into prominence as one of the most honest and ablest of the business men of the North and this piece of incendiarism—we fear it was nothing less —deals a severe blpw to a prosperous and hard striven for business.

It is almost unnecessary to report that all his neighbours in the Awanui proffered assistance to Mr. Scansie during the fire but nothing could be done and practically nothing was saved. The stock in the store was valued at £ISOO and the building at £SOO. The stock was insured for £SOO and the building to the amount of £200; both policies being, we understand, with the Government Insurance Department. Mr. Scansie’s loss at the lowest estimate must therefore be over £7OO. Attempt to Burn Down Mrs. Bird's House. Mrs. Bird, the school mistress at Awanui, who lives in a house situated just behind the school, was awakened about 1 a.m. on Sunday morning by a crackling sound. On going outside to find the cause of the noise the lady saw that a fire had just been started underneath her house. Kindling wood, kerosene and rags had been taken from the wash-house and ignited under the building. Mrs. Bird succeeded in putting out the flames and called her neighbours to acquaint them of the occurrence. Mr. Dykins was the first to be informed of the dastardly attempt and he with Messrs. Ralston, McLeod, Goodwin and IT. G. Hunt (who was staying

in the Awanui Hotel) examined the scene. These gentlemen are convinced that the attempt to burn Mrs. Bird’s residence was intentional as flood water being down from Kaitaia only one acquainted with the lie of the ground could have succeeded in obtaining materials and starting a blafce.

Mrs. Bird had only four children sleeping in the house with her on Saturday night and she is to be congratulated on so quickly apprehending danger and on her success at dealing with it.

Chatting with one who has to-day returned from Awanui We were informed that it is the general opinion there that these two fires were deliberately started and that they were the work of some persons very well acquainted with the habits of most of the residents of the district. It is not too much to say that everyone in the neighbourhood is distinctly uneasy and that no one will be able to retire to rest with any sense of security until the blackguardly curs who are responsible for the mischief have been traced and placed under lock and key. We believe that Constable Sefton, of Kaitaia, who is the only police officer in the district, is doing his best to find out who the incendiaries be and we trust that, for the security of the public and peace of mind of all concerned, there will be little delay in bringing the responsible criminals to book.