FIRES

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21416, 7 March 1935, Page 17

FIRES

LARGE HOMESTEAD DESTROYED IPiilioS ASSOCIATION' TELEGH.YM.) ROTORUA, March 6. One of the best-known homesteads in Rotorua, and a well-known district landmark, was destroyed by fire in the early hours of this morning when the residence of Mr C. Smith, at Kawaha Point, was completely gutted. The origin of the outbreak is unknown. Mrs Smith awakened to find the ceiling of her bedroom ablaze. Mr and Mrs Smith, together with Mrs J. C. Charlmers, and a young man names Coutts, employed on the property, were the only occupants, and they made a hurried escape in their night attire. Standing on a projecting headland amid spacious grounds, the homestead overlooked the lake and the town, and commanded one of the finest views in the district. Mr Smith, who had just returned from a trip abroad, is a heavy loser, as the furniture and contents of the house were not insured. Among other things a quantity of jewellery valued at £SOO and a sum in cash were lost. TRAMWAYMEN'S prompt ACTION CHINESE ESCAPES FROM BLAZING SHOP (PEESS ASSOCIATION TELEQH.AH.') AUCKLAND, March 6. Dazed by smoke, a Chinese named Ching narrowly escaped with his life from a bedroom over a blazing fruit shop in Ponsonby this morning.