December 7, 2008

A second arson attack in a week has caused about $1 million damage to a police station under construction in Christchurch, and set the project back more than two months.
The South Christchurch Police Station on Colombo Street, Sydenham, is now a blackened shell after a fire early Saturday.
The fire destroyed the building's fittings and damaged concrete floors.
A smaller fire at the station last week caused hundreds of thousands of dollars damage.
Detective Senior Sergeant John Rae said the damage from the weekend blaze was extensive.
'The soot and dirt in there is unbelievable . . . It is black. There are sagging pipes and melted wiring hanging down. It is filthy. Absolutely horrendous,' he said.
'The heat damage has eaten away at the concrete on the first floor.'
Police believed the fire started about 4am on Saturday, but was only spotted by a neighbour about 5.30am and reported to the Fire Service.
The building was due for completion in March, but Rae believed there would be a 10-week delay.
Police would like to speak to anyone who saw any activity near the construction site on the corner of Colombo and Strickland streets between 3.30am and 5.30am.
Anyone with information can contact Rae via the central police switchboard on 03 363 7400.
Police were also investigating a fire on Southshore Spit at 2pm on Friday.
Seven fire appliances, including a command unit, attended the blaze at the end of Rocking Horse Road.
Anyone with information on the Southshore blaze should call Sergeant Valyn Barrett, of the Papanui police, on 03 374 1760.