Harrow Escape From Fire

Feilding Star, Volume IX, Issue 110, 17 April 1888, Page 3

Narrow Escape From Fire

On Sunday night last, when most of the good people of Feilding were attending their several places of worship, there was a narrow escape from a fire which would, had it been allowed to get a firm hold, have destroyed a valuable block of buildings and endangered the safety of a number of the houses surrounding. The following are the details of the occurrence : —Mr Alfred Hannett and Mrs Hanaett. who reside near the Temperance Hotel, observed a strong smell of wood burning, and being on the alert went outside to ascertain the cause. A few minutes observation assured Mr Hannett the Temperance Hotel, of which Mr John Gould is proprietor, was on fire. Mr Hannet, accompanied by his wife, at once ran to the Hotel, when Mr Hannett ascended to the roof, which was then smoking and ready to burst into flames. Mrs Hannett and Mrs Beazly (Mr Gould's sister) handed him copious supplies of water so that he was enabled to prevent the fire becoming master. In the meantime worshippers who had been attending the religious services of Mr Roots, in a building nearby, had come to assist, and Mr Gould, who had been sent for to church, now arrived on the scene, accompanied by several willing friends, by whose aid the building was soon placed beyond danger. Mr Gould informs us the origin of the fire was caused by the negligence of a servant girl who had placed a lighted candle on the ledge of a small window the top of which the flames from the candle ignited, the latter in its turn set fire to the window blind. The flames continued to ascend until they got hold of the matchlined ceiling and, burning through that, took hold of the woodwork of the roof. Had it not been for Mr Hannett the loss of property would have been very great. In this connection we observe that a meeting of the Underwriter's Association was held in Wellington on Monday to consider in what manner the various Insurance offices can best recognise the skill and energy of Detective Chrystal in bringing certain incendiaries to justice, and we think that Mr H. L. Sherwill, and the other local agents of Insurance offices interested, should at an early date bring the conduct of Mr Hannett under the notice of the Association in order that he may receive that reward which his services on this occasion so specially deserve. Among others who so kindly worked to save the property, Mr Alfred Eade and Mr Curreen are particularly mentioned by Mr Gould, but in the excitement and confusion he failed to notice many others who did good service, but in another column he cordially thanks them all.