A BIG BLAZE.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19063, 27 July 1927, Page 9

A BIG BLAZE.

SALVATION ARMY HOMB DESTROYED, WOMEN RUSH FROM WALL 0* FLAMB. [WEB PBBSB Speeial lenriee.] AUCKLAND, July 2C. Fire and atom combined to create a vivid picture on Parnell rise at midnight last sight, when the Salvation Army Women's Home waa burned to ashes. Handicapped by an inadoquato water-supply, the Auckland and Parnell Fire Brigades managed to save neighbouring houses, which wore ignited by the intense heat, and thus relieved a grave situation. The outbreak atarted in the Salvaton Army Home's laundry, which waa detached, about six feet from the main building. The Home carries on a laundering business, and several City restaurants lost linon, one eoncorn losing 70 table-cloths burned in the fire. Girls sleeping in tho room nearest the laundry were awakened by smoke, j and the crackling of burning timber. J By thas time thoir own room was partly alight. Hurriedly warning the other inmates they quitted the building, pursued by; an advancing wall of flame. Of tho 80 inmates, five of whom are members of the Army staff, only one of whose room was noar an outside door saved so much aa a shred of perionnl belongings other than the clothes sho stood up in. Among the occupants were two crippled women, whose rescue was carried out with difficulty, but with the highest courage one woman went back into her bedroom, and dragged a cheat of drawers and a box on to the street. She was the only one who saved anything, and among the salvage was a pot plant. Hustled into the driving rain—the storm was at its height and raged throughout—the evicted women were in a miserable plight. They found shelter under the verandahs until the Par- V nell police took charge of them and ultimately they were conveyed in cars to the' Salvation Army maternity hospital, where they were honied for tho night. Meanwhile tho flames had taken absolute control of the burning home. In all its stages the fire was a dramntjc spectacle. Bain was falling heavily, diffusing the glare so that from tho city the whole of Parnell seemed to be alight. From the laundry the flames took charge of the eastern end of the main building, swept through the first floor and basement, and then enveloped the upper struoture of the house. In a paddock in the front was a horse, which neighed pitoously, and made frantic efforts to leap the fences. It suffered no harm from the ordeal.

. At first the Parnell and City Brigades, which had both turned out, triod to save the west end of the Home, but the poor water pressure would not allow the jets to carry against the wind. Advancing closer, tho firemen used wooden shields as a protection from the heat and actually crouched behind these while the other side was charring. Nothing could be done, however, to save the Home, and by this time the paintwork on adjoining houses was blistering and charring, so attention was concentrated on them. On the west ww a block of wooden flats in front of which the fence was alight.. On the i east was a two-atorey building owned by Miss McCabo and ocoupled by Mr and Mrs 0. Froggart. It caught alight ' twice, but was saved by the Brigade.

I The Home, which was burned to ashes, I was acquired by the Salvation Army 30 years ago. It was originally. the property of the late Mr Edward "Withy, I a former M.P. for Newton, who had retired from the Hartlepool (England), shipbuilding business of Furness, Withy, and came to live in New Zealand. He built the house 40 years ago and at the time it was one of the finest homes in the city. Heart of kauri throughout it was as sound when destroyed as in the year of its creation, but was so dry that it burned like a bonfire, and only the chimneys now stand. Built on a slope, the house was ' three storeys high in the front, and two at the back. The Salvation Army carries its insurance! from headquarters at' Wellington. The origin of the Are is unknown. It began in the laundry,, which was closed at 6.18 p.m. yesterday, and one of the staff ventured the belief that a drying line might have collapsed across the fireplace. The inmates of the Home will, for the present, be accommodated in Grey street, where the Army has property. ROTORUA TEA KIOSK DESTROYED. (PBXBB ASSOCIATION teukhu*.) BOTORUA, JulyJ». The makaxewawswa Te* Kiosk, »» extensive building, was burned, to V» ground at 6 o'clock this morning. A heavy wind was blowing, and there was torrential rain. When the brigade arrived it was hopeless to try to save the building, and the brigade concentrated on the surrounding dwellings, which were effectively isolated. The kiosk is owned by Nathan and Company, Auckland, and is leased »y Mrs'Donaldson and used for refresnmente and dancing. The carved house adjoining was undamaged. The insurances are unknown. Be prepared. See that you have adequate fire protection. Consult the Mercantile and General Insurance OoLtd., Hereford street. —<»