FIRES IN CHRISTCHURCH.

Wairarapa Age, 20 August 1929, Page 2

FIRES IN CHRISTCHURCH.

TWO OUTBREAKS DURING WEEKEND. CHRISTCHURCH, August 19. Two fires occurred in the city on Saturday night and Sunday morning and the circumstances surrounding them, are at least strange. In one case it was evident that the fire was deliberately caused. The first outbreak was at 11.41 p.m. nt the home of Mr. Thurston Pearson, 82, Caledonian Road, St. Albans. The fire began In the washhouse and ran along a small verandah and into the ceiling of the house. It was there that it was arrested by the brigade, although by that time the walls of the kitchen and scullery and a bedroom had been badly damaged. The washhouse, which was not locked, had not been used on Saturday, and all the evening there had been people in the house. The place is insured for £650 in the London and Lacashire Office and the furniture for £350- in the same office. The second fire was at the office of Mr. Joseph Edmund Cooper. This is on the premises of is coalyard at 56, Montreal Street, Sydenham. The fire was discovered by one of his employees, Mr. Jarvis, who lives in a house alongside the coalyard. He was awakened by a muffled explosion and ran out to see ablaze the front wall of the structure, which was built of weed and poilite. There was no irsuranee of any kind on the office. The police took possession of the locks of the doors yesterday.—(P.A.)