ATTEMPT TO BURN HOUSE

Taranaki Daily News, 27 July 1929, Page 15

ATTEMPT TO BURN HOUSE

MAYOR’S HOME RANSACKED

SENSATION IN CHRISTCHURCH.

BRIGADE .CHECKS SERIOUS FIRE.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. -An attempt was made to-night to burn down the residence of the Mayor, the Rev. J. K. Archer. The house was not totally destroyed, but damage to the extent of £2OO or £3OO was done. The loss is covered by insurance. Mr. Archer was attended a dinner-, being held in connection with the Canterbury Rugby Union jubilee celebra? tions when he received a telephone message that his house was on fire. He dashed home and found the brigade already busy with a serious fire. Good work was lone saving the house from destruction. Tnere was ample evidence that the x ' fire was of incendiary origin. Every room had been ransacked and fires had been started in four rooms. In Mr. Archer’s study and library all the drawers had been' pulled open and the contents strewn on the floor, A pile of papers had been put down beside the desk and set on fire, but fortunately little damage was done here, for Mr. Archer’s library is a valuable one. In other rooms all the likely places for valuables had been searched thoroughly. In the dining room a fire started did much damage, the room being completely gutted. In the kitchen a pile of furniture and pictures had been thrown together and the pile ignited. Fire also had been started in a bedroom. Every window in the house had been thrown open, probably to al-. , low the breeze to fan the flames.