The Courthouse Fire

A major battle was waged last month by the Fire Brigade to save the Gisborne Courthouse, in which fire broke out on a Saturday evening. It was considered that the fire had been lit deliberately. After a four-hour battle, the major part of the old kauri building was saved, but the damage was considerable and posed a problem as to whether it should be demolished or repaired.

The fire, with its implications of arson, made headlines throughout the Dominion press, and so did the action of the local Stipendiary Magistrate, Mr L. N. Ritchie, in holding a session of the Court on the footpath outside the damaged building on the following Monday morning. The picture of this unusual session, taken by "Photo News", and appearing on the opposite page, was widely reproduced.

Another view of the outside Court sitting, with Mr Ritchie at left, and members of the public watching from the sidewalk.

Firemen working in haze of acrid smoke.

The fire at its height about 10 p.m.

After the fire, the courthouse staff had an unenviable task in trying to salvage equipment and records.

Mr Ritchie with staff members in what was the office. From left, MrA. F. O. Clarke (registrar), Mr W. Haymes, Mr L. N. Ritchie, S.M., Mr C. Wood, Mr T. Nelson, Miss E. Constable, Mr G. Skuse, Miss J. Candy, Miss B. Williamson, Mr H. Fulljames.

An outside view of the damaged roof structure.

Mr Clarke, Miss Williamson and Miss D. Burns salvaging office equipment.

The court room roof collapsed over the Bench, before the clean-up. (These pictures by Lloyd Cornish)

On the Sunday morning after the fire, curious crowds gathered in Read's Quay to inspect the damaged building. Temporary offices for the Department of Justice were secured next door in the old City Council Chambers, while sessions of the court were held in the War Memorial building.

After Works Department men had cleared away the debris, the court room, minus its roof, looked like this. Surprisingly little damage was actually done to the walls, floor, or furnishings.

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The Gisborne Photo News

No 63 : September 17, 1959

The Courthouse Fire