INCENDIARIST AT WORK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13780, 19 June 1908, Page 5

INCENDIARIST AT WORK.

FIRE IN CHEISTCH URCH. A POLICEMAN'S DISCOVERY. [BY TELEGRAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.] : Chrisxchtfrch, Thursday. A deliberate attempt to destroy the ';.block of buildings standing next' to. the Adams- Star Cycle Company's premises in High-street was made late last evening. The shop of Messrs. Masters and Son, tailors and mercers, was burned outsome months ago, in the fire that occurred; in Wiltshire Buildings, and the salvage stock was removed to a shop in the building next to Messrs. Maine Bros', old boot store, where the firm continued business. Shortly after 11 o'clock last evening Constable Pender, who was on duly in Highstreet, noticed a glare in the . shop of Messrs. Masters and Son. He burst in the door at once, telling a. passer-by to give the alarm. On entering the shop the constable found a heap of clothing . alight on the counter, and pulling it apart he discovered a piece of piping leading from a gas jet, and connected to it by rubber tubing. The gas was turned on, and there was a strong flame at the mouth of the pipe. By this time the fire brigade had arrived, and a. few buckets of water sufficed to quell the outbreak. An examination of the premises showed that the back door, gate, and windowwere open, a. pane having been broken near the catch of the window. The cash register was open, and a cheque and some silver were lying in it, and a pair of steps was standing by the window. Superintendent. Smith stated that the attempt i was one of the most deliberate he had ever seen. It seems to be fairly apparent that robbery was not the object of the intruder's visit. The police were in possession of the premises to-day, and it is understood that they have secured photographs of finger-prints impressed on the window. Mr. Masters is offering £100 reward for information which will lead to the conviction of the incendiarist. The insurances are £500 on the stock in the Royal Exchange Company and £850 on the stock and furnishings in the Australian Alliance Office The total damage is estimated at £100. The fire in the Public Library, reported yesterday, is suspected to have been caused by a. "crank," and was not by any means a skilful attempt.