Woman’s Story Of Vainly Calling Fire Brigade Not Believed

Wanganui Chronicle, 24 February 1949, Page 6

Woman’s Story Of Vainly Calling Fire Brigade Not Believed

AUCKLAND, Yesterday (PA).—A woman’s allegation that she called at the fire station in Pitt Street, Auckland, to report the fire which destroyed the old Grammar School on January 15 about an hour and a-half before the brigade turned out in response to a street fire alarm call has been dismissed. It was thoroughly investigated by the Metropolitan Fire Board and discussed in committee today. The board later issued a statement to the Press saying it had decided to take no further action in the matter.

Police inquiries, however, are being continued.

The chairman of the board, Mr. B. Brigham, informed the Press that there was conflict between statements by the woman concerned, Mrs. Aldridge, an employee of Ryecroft, near the scene of the fire, and the information given by another woman who called the brigade from the street fire alarm box. He said that almost every statement made by Mrs. Aldridge had been proved to be inaccurate, uncorroborated or entirely without foundation. She left the boarding house at 6.10 o'clock on the morning of January 29 without notification or leaving a forwarding address.