FIRE AT KELBURNE

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1413, 13 April 1912, Page 5

FIRE AT KELBURNE

TWO HOUSES DESTROYED,

TWO OTHERS DAMAGED,

'A fire broke out in Kelbume at an £arly hour this morning, and resulted in the total destruction of two houses, while Vo other residences were slightly damaged bot'ore the flames were subdued.

The fire originated in the kitchen of No. 71 lielburno Parade, a ten-roomed house, owned and occupied by Mr. Cecil Goulter, solicitor. Tho flames soon got so strong a hold that it was impossible to successfully copo with them, and tho place was totally destroyed. Tho building was insured in tho Norwich Union Office for Very little of tho furjiituro was saved.

The furniture was insured for ,£2OO in the Norwich Union, but was valued at nearly double that amount.

The flames soon spread to the adjoining building (No. 7G), a six-roomed house, owned by Mrs. Goulter, but not occupied. It .was also completely destroyed. The building was insured for .£BOO, also in the Norwich Union Office.

Tho house, on tho other side of the building in which tho fire started also caught, but tho brigade succeeded in saving it from destruction, only one wall being slightly damaged. It was occupied by ■Mr. J. E. Gray. Mr. and Mrs. Gray are in Sydney, their family being left in charge of tho house.

Mr. Cecil Goulter states that ho and his wife retired to bed at 9.30 p.m. Shortly before 1 o'clock they were awakened by Eome noise. On getting out of bed to Me what was tho cause, they found the kitchen in flames. Mr. Goulter tried to turn on the electric light, but found that it bad fused. It is thought that this was possibly the cause of the outbreak. He and his wife had to make a hurried exit, and then informed the brigade by telephone, and saved a few of their belongings. The firo soon had a good hold, and before long it had spread to an unoccupied house next door.

Sergeant M'Crorrie, of the Mount Cook Police, was one of the first on tho scene, end shortly after tho fire brigade arrived. Both houses were by that time doomed. The brigade confined their attentions principally to a largo house on tlie south side, No. 78, owned by Mr. King, and occupied by Mr. Scott. Tho eaves and roof had taken fire, but by two o'clock Nos. 74 and 76 wero totally destroyed, and 78 seemed safe.

During the time the firo was in progress a northerly wind w:as blowing, and sparks .from the fire wero carried almost to Aro Street. Tho brigade attacked the fire with two leads of hoso from front and back, but were seriously handicapped by a poor pressure of water. Had a 'stronger wind Deen blowing from the north, it is probable that the fire would have resulted more disastrously, for there were 1 about half a dozen houses on the 'south\side almost adjoining each other. Private hoses wore employed to save the houses at the back.