FIRE AT KOHIMARAMA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9090, 26 June 1888, Page 6

FIRE AT KOHIMARAMA.

Alexander Doncan was charged with setting fire to a hay-ohed at Kohimarama School on June 6. Mr. Earl appeared for the defence, and pleaded "Not Guilty." Inspector Broham conducted the case on behalf x»f the police. Detective John Mitchell Walker was sworn, and deposed to making a plan of the premises. George Hogan, manager Kohimarama Industrial School, deposed he remembered Wednesday, June 6, as a fire occurred about half-past seven that evening in the hayshed on the premises. The partition between the compartments of the shed was about seven feet high, close boards, and from that height to the roof open boards. The hay-shed was covered but the cowshed adjoining was open to the south. There were 49 boys at the school that evening. Just before the alarm of fire witness had left 47 of the boys. The boys had been at prayers. After prayers they went down to the beach to null up a boat. After doing this witness and the boys walked up together from the beach. The boys went on to the lavatory and dormitories, and witness went to his office. The remaining two boys were in an isolated ward, in the dormitory. The boat had been over to the North Shore to fetch Mr. Brakenrig to hold a service at the school, but Mr. Brakenrig did not come. They were about five or six minutes pulling up the boat after prayers. The crew returned about seven minutes past seven o'clock. The whole school and withess went down to the beach to receive Mr. Brakenrig, whom they expected. The crew numbered eight. The other boys had been in the school together some ten minutes prior to going down to the beach. This was about 6.55 p.m. All the boys then walked up to the school together. Prayers were had, and then we went down to the beach to haul up the boat. After doing this, he went to hie office, and the boys to the lavatories and the dormitories. When the alarm of fire was given, they all turned out, and found the hay in the shed on fire. The hay was in bales, and did not burn as fiercely as it would have done had the hay been loose. He did not think the fire had been going more than five or 6ix minutes when he got there. The wind was from the south, the effect of which would be to carry the smoke and flames towards the main buildings of the school. The dormitories would be about 25 yards from the shed. They had to work hard for nearly an hour to get the fire out. It burst through the roof while they were working on it. The damage done was about £5. Witness saw the accused in the diningroom speaking to the cook, about half-past six, and again at the fire. Witness here produced the brand of matches used at the school, and also the remnants of a box found near the fire. Witness said they never used the latter brand at the school. The school matches were "The Times," Bell Brand, while the matches found near the fire were the well-known " Tandsticker" brand. About twenty-two minutes past seven a boy named Syphlett left the school for a few minutes to get a light for the lantern. Mr. Earle cross-examined, —The boy Duncan was five years in the school, and during that time witness had reason to form a very high opinion of Duncan, and had written him credentials, and spoken of him to this effect. Witness had said he was the best boy. he had. Mrs. Hogan shared this opinion and did not believe him guilty of the charge even now. The boy and witness had corresponded since the former left the school. The boy was under witness' control but was hired out. Witness knew of no reason why the boy should desire to injure him. Witness did not suspect the boy the night of the fire, but suspected him before he was arrested next day, when the matches were found. On the night witness did not make any investigation as to the cause of the fire amongst the boys. He, however, expressed surprise that it should have been set on fire. He made no search for matches round the scene of the fire, nor amongst the boys, nor in the dormitories. Witness had heard that some of the boys tried to steal away and have a smoke, but he had never seen them. Witness had heard of a boy named Gill smoking. The boys were under witness' eye from seven o'clock till twentytwo minutes past seven p.m. Witness had not noticed Duncan in the school with the rest of the boys singing. Witness did not call a roll, or count heads, but felt sure they were all present. He was sure because he made them take their seats on the following morning where they had sat on the night of the fire, but he did not count or call the roll on the night of the fire. The distance from the school door to the beach, where theboat was, was butafewyards, about five or six. Witness did not think it was possible for one of the boys to have slipped away when they left the schoolroom to go to haul up the boat. He did not think they dare. He was stern with them. After some further evidence was taken, the hear* ing of the case was adjourned until Thursday.