SUSPICIOUS FIRES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18247, 14 November 1922, Page 6

SUSPICIOUS FIRES.

OUTBREAKS IN TAURANGA.

POLICE MAKE AN ARREST. A CHARGE OF ARSON. [BT TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] TAURANGA. Monday. Two fires occurred in the business area on Saturda- night. They were discovered in the early stages and extinguished before any serious damageoo r curred. The first outbreak was in the machine room of Messrs. Tanner Bros., butchers. The fire was extinguished by several men who were close at hand. The second fire was discovered at 9.15 in the business premises in Willow Street owned by Mr. P. Munro and tenanted by Messrs. A. E. Hammond and Company. The floor of this building is well above the ground, and those early on the scene had no difficulty in observing that the fire had started in a large box under the building. The brigade quickly had the fire under control. Although considerable smoke found its way into the building, no damage was done except to the floor directly over the burning box. After the flames had been subdued the box, partially burned, was secured. It seemed evident that the second fire was the work of an incendiarist, and two fires in such quick succession and nine other outbreaks in the previous fortnight served to create a marked feeling of uneasiness. After taking the reel back to the station, six members of the fire brigade patrolled the town in relays and kept everything in readiness for a call at the station until after midnight. In the meantime Constables Skinner and Clifford made a thorough investigation of thcflocality in the vicinity of the second fire. About midnight they arrested a young man named George Victor Clark, who appeared at the Magistrate's Court this morning before Mr. B. C. Bobbins, J.P., charged with arson in respect to the two fires. Constable Skinner applied for a remand for eight days, which was granted, Clark meantime remaining in custody.