BURNING OF THE HOKITIKA STATE SCHOOL

Inangahua Times, Volume XI, Issue 1652, 13 January 1886, Page 2

BURNING OF THE HOKITIKA STATE SCHOOL

Those fiist ou the. ground found the fife burning fiercely i>i the infants' room. Seeing that it was useless to attempt to extinguish it, an effort was made to remove the furniture. Efforts were also made to RKACHTHE LIBRARY, Imt it was fonnd impossible to save the valuable collection of looks winch had hefu, by the joint assistance of the Board and the townspeople, procured for the o«e of the children and teachers, only one or two volumes lieing reco vered. The Fire Brigade lent valuable assistance in salvage work, but to do any good with the fire, the hose required to be about 700 ft longer. The origin of the fire (says the Times) will be very hard to ascertain. Mr Blair, the caretaker, paid a visit to the school on Monday, and everything was in perfect order. Mr Kirk, the town lamplighter, mad" his usual round at about 12 o'clock, and there was no s : g i of anything wrong. Mr Allen, the nightwatchman, saw a bright glare at three o'clock, and getting his glasses, made out what it was, when he at once sounded tin hell. At this time no smoke or flames had issued from the building, and the fire was only indica ted by a bright light through the windows. It is very plain that it was not the result of an ordiuary accident Bnys .nay have been in thi? habit of roaming there for birds nests, or of making a reufczcou* under the building between the floor and the ground, and collected some inflammable sub stances which have become lighted by a 10-Uch. Whether it is this, or whether incendiarism pure and simple, it is necessary that a most searching enqniry shou dbe made. The loss to the town is very great. The State i School was the handsomest building in Hokitika, and townspeople always pointed to it with pride. The conveniences for both pupils and teachers flrei-e cai'et'ully studied, and they had been used to look on it with much affection. School work will he- carried on temporarily in the gymnasium, aud at Mi- H. L. Robinson's large store, which he has kindly placed at the disposal of the committee. Mr Pizzey'.s mult house would also be convenient if additional space is re- I quired.