FIRE IN CHURCH HALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15932, 1 June 1915, Page 8

FIRE IN CHURCH HALL.

EARLY MORNING OUTBREAK.

INCENDIARISM SUSPECTED.

GaS burner tampered with.

An outbreak of fire occurred at. the rear of the infants' classroom attached t<. St.

• mes's Presbyterian ('lunch. "Velljngton .'lti'M, about one o'clock this morning. Apparently it was the result of an attempt at incendiarism. The fire occurred < in the lavatory at the rear of the class room, which is part of a two-storeyed wooden structure adjacent to the main hall, known as St. James's. The flame.? were soon suppressed, the only damage done being to a portion of the walls and the landing of an extern!. 1 staircase leading to the sec md floor.

After the ire had been extiimuMied Superintendent Woolley, of the City Fire Brigade, heard a loud hissing noise in the lavatory, and on investigation it was found that the gas-jet was turned on. \ piece of iron downpipe about 2ft 6in Ion:; was attached to tne burner and was resting against the wall. Without this piping it would have been impossible for the flame from the gas burner t , have come in contact with the woodwork..

The caretaker, Mr. Daniel Towse, stated that h* turned the gas off at the burner at 9.50 p.m. He did not turn off the meter, as it was not customary to do so. The burner was fitted with an incandescent mantle and globe. The smashed globe and the fittings of the burner were afterwards found on the now. All the circumstances point to a deliberate attempt to burn down tne building.