Fatal fire at Auckland

Feilding Star, Volume V, Issue 12, 31 January 1884, Page 3

Fatal fire at Auckland

-•> [fta UNITED 7KBSB ASSOCIATION.] \ Auckland, This Day. .••'., TheKtipara Hotel, at Helens ville, and tha extensive stores of McLeod Bros., -were burned down last night. John Harris, the cook, aad Mooney, his assistant, were burned to death. Oni y Harris' fcody was recovered, but several fragjnenti picked up are discerned as portions «f ike otlwr man's body. The Public ] Hall and several private residences were .only Jitved by the efforts of a number of tmshmen, who happened to be on the spot with axes, and they ent a butcher's shop to pieces, which was removed, preventing <he further spread -of tbe fire. The total damage w several thousand pounds. Later. At tbe fire at the Kaipara Hotel, in which Harris, the cook, and Mocney, the cook's asate, were burned to death, two children of the landlord had a narrow escape. They were rescued only by extraordinary exertiest. John Harris | was a tingle man well-known in the timber trade. John Mooney was a stranger in the district, and is believed to have fceen tingle. An inqoest wm held on their bodies. Tbe jury returned a verdict of '" accidentally borned to death" . Tbe evtdeace shewed tbat the fire originated in tbeir bedroom. Harris had had •erne beet, but was said to be able to take care of himself. He is said to have a . considerable sum of money in tbe Bank. Hisrealmameis Ceoksley. He was fortterljintrhe 40 Regiment, and also served ' in Maior Roberts"* division against Titokowaru. oa the West Coast. Mooney is f •aid to have beea generally half muddled, j. bnt to hare been sober on the night of •flaefin. ■^ mmmimmi^ m^