SCHOOL BURNED.

North Otago Times, Volume CVI, Issue 13975, 10 September 1917, Page 1

SCHOOL BURNED.

INCENDIARISM SUSPECTED, SENSATIONAL DISCLOSURES. . (Per Press Association). . WANGANDI, September 7. The Queen's Park School, one of the principal State schools of the town, was practically destroyed by fire at midday to-day, holiday week. The fire had a strong hold when discovered. - About £fifl worth of band instruments, 'as well as many pounds' worth of school books, were destroyed. The Education Department held the risk on the old portion of the building, the remainder being covered by insurance, totalling £IOOO, divided as follows: New Zealand £333 Gs Bd, and the South British, Victoria, Standard, and Liverpool and London and Globo £IOG 13s 4d each.

Some 'sensational disclosures have since been made in connection with the fire. .From information gathered by the police, it appears that fives have occurred in other schools in Wnngnnui during tho present week, and incendiarism is suspected, Tho first school to bo attacked was.'that on Victoria Avenue. It appears that a 6 p.m. on Monday last, when tho charwoman left, everything was in order. On returning at four o'clock on Tuesday, however, ,011 entering one- of tho rooms '• she found that it had been ransacked. The drawers in the master's table hail been forced open, and lockers had been entered. ' The contents had been placed on top of .tho table and set firo to, the charrod remains being found. On entering a second room the same state.of affairs existed, while in a third room the contents of drawers and lockers had been placed in the centre of the floor and set alight. - no further damage was done, sa'vc charring the woodwork,

On the following day, when a visit wa's paid 'to Miss O'Brien's ; infant school near.St. John's Hill, the gas. ring in one room was discovered alight and burning briskly, ITowlong ikhadlicou burning noWe knows; but it was certain -that' it had been, set alight alter the school had. broken up for a.week's holiday, ■•■-', ;.' '/■ : The police have the matters, in hand, and' full inquiry is being made/,