FIRE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3935, 29 February 1884, Page 2

FIRE.

About 1.30 o'clock this morning the firebell at the N.V.F.B.'s out-stationatEnfield road rung out an alarm, which waß quickly answered at the Spit Brigade's station, but for some minutes the bell at the town station,remained silent awaiting the oall. The brigade, however, had mustered and had tho engines drawn out, but at first the reflection in the sky was thoughttqlmfrom a bush firo at the back of Petano. All doubt on the point was soon cleared away as a "call" camo from the Spit, tho town bell was sharply ruug, ; and a alarm was given at the district school. In the meantime the Enfield out-brigade had turned out with ' hose reel, and iproceeded with commendable despatch to the scene of the fire which proved to be Mr Pointon's residence in Main street; (Onepoto rjGully). There being a first-class pressure of water in that thoroughfare no time was lost in contending with the flames, but the fire had such a firm hold of the building that it was impossible to save it. In wonderfully quick time a strong detachment of the Spit Brigade, with hose reel, arrived on the ground, and united their efforts to those of the Enfield road men, and the fire was prevented from extending-to ah adjoining dwelling-house. The services of the main body of the Spit Brigade, with the; engine, which smartly followed the first detachmont, were not now required, and Superintendent Water worth, who, with other members of tho Napier Brigade, had arrived promptly at the scene, sent a messenger to turn back the town engine and reel which.woro being dragged, along Napier Terrace;' and had reached as far as the cemetery gates. The cause of the fire can only be surmised ; it broke out in one of the back rooms-and Mr Pointon was awoke by the screams* of his children, At that time the-flames had got firm hold, arid ! thc family had to escape from the building in little more than their night clothes. Mr Pointon lost no time in arousing his neighbor, Mr" McGrath,"* who wont immediately and gavo the alarm at the Enfield' road station,- from whence the first assistance came, as previously stated. The house in \Vhich the fire broke out was a recently erected six-roomed dwelling, standing in' a garden, ono of tho most comfortable looking residences in Onepoto Gully, and much sympathy is felt for Mr Pointon. and his family. In addition to the house, a stable, a workshop, and a detached kitchen were totally destroyed. The insurances were £250 oh the house, £100 on the furniture, £25 on the stable, and £25 on the workshop, in the Victoria office.