SPECTACULAR BLAZE

Taranaki Daily News, 8 January 1927, Page 2

SPECTACULAR BLAZE

SPREYDON SCHOOL BURNED.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.

Christchurch, Jan. 7

The wooden portion of the Spreydon school was destroyed by a spectacular fire which occurred shortly before midnight last night . The outbreak arouses suspicion. Eighteen months ago an incendiary' attempt was made on the same building. While the fire lasted the blaze was vivid, the hose leads doing little to curb the fury of the flames. By 12.45 a.m. the building had practically collapsed, and the open-air .shed and coal and firewood stores, which are separate from the main building, had also been destroyed. Two tons of coal in the coal shed helped to make the fire 'in the smaller buildings quite as spectacular as in the big one. The caretaker is certain that he did nothing which might have caused! the fire. The building, which was from 50 to 55 years’ old, consisted of* four big classrooms. The woodwork was not in a good state and made excellent fuel. On a recent visit the Minister of Education expressed the view that the school was scarcely in a fit state for occupation, and it was placed well up on tlie rebuilding list.