FATAL-FIRE AT PETONE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2671, 18 January 1916, Page 7

FATAL-FIRE AT PETONE

A fire, attended with fatal results, occurred at Petone at an early liour yesterday morning. -The soeno of the outbreak was a two-story building, situated at the rear of Messrs.. Wearue and Collins's business premises, . and used ,by the last-named ' as a washhouse. A man named John 801 l Shelbourne, a carpenter, aged 67 years, was allowed to use the top floor as a workshop. He was not authorised to sleep on the premises, but evidently had done so. The .alarm was given by the nightwatoliman, hut upon tho arrival of the brigade it ooula easily be seen that tho building,' which was very old, was doomed. Moreover, a considerable delay in obtaining' water took place, owing to the ; reoent" tarring of Jackson Street,; in which the fire-plug had been covered over, necessitating the use of another plug further away.- In a few minutes tho building collapsed, and after , the •- flames had beon- reduced the body of the unfortunate man Shelbourne' was discovered. I ram the position it appeared ' that Melbourne bad rolled off the bed on which he had been lying, as the bodv found underneath. tlie bedding, and was consequently but little charred. Had there been a strong wind, it is probable that the block from Sydney btreefc to lutzherhcrt Street bably have been destroyed. As it was the buildings close to the scene got considerably scorched. The shed,.which was totally destroyed, was leased by Wearue and Collins from the owner, Mr. G. Gamble, of Christ-church, and wa& insured in the Commercial Union office for £25. Shelbourne leaves two ono at Taumarunui, the other at Wellington, and a married daughter, Mrs. Moore, of Beach Street, Petone. An inquest will be held.