A Suspicious Fire.

Waikato Argus, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4291, 5 January 1910, Page 2

A Suspicious Fire.

By Telegraph. —Press Association Christchurch, Last Night.

About half-past two o’clock this morning the Christchurch Fire Brigade received an alarm of fire in the large Cafe Cecil building in High street, and a large force of firemen turned out quickly. They found a dense volume of smoke issuing from rooms occupied by Messrs L. V. Goyen and R. J. King, dentists. Two couches in the waiting room were on fire, and the walls were considerably blackened. There was a tin ot benzine in the room, and a cylinder of gas was in close proximity, while a lighted bicycle lamp was found in an adjoining work room. The tire was quickly subdued by the brigade, which was fortunate in being able to

attack it at, an early stage. Suspicious circumstances are connected with the fire. The room in which the outbreak was discovered is on the first floor, with access by swing doors from a landing. It was used as a joint consulting room by two dentists. The swing doors had been locked, but entrance was effected by drilling out the catch by means of an auger. The small room had been cleared of furniture, which was piled in the consulting room, and benzine had been poured over it. the tire was lit in a room adjoining the dentist’s work room. Shavings, straw, and other inflammable material were spread about and set on fire. In the work room an acetylene lamp bad been lighted and placed on some scrim material, but the latter was not sot alight. The incendiarist apparently escaped by means of a rope from a window. So far the police have no clue to the perpetrator. Christchurch, This Day. Investigation shows that the fire at Goyen and King’s dentistry rooms was a case of arson. The owners were away. It is supposed the culprit concealed himself in the building till all was quiet.