Fire Near Feilding

Feilding Star, Volume X, Issue 57, 20 October 1888, Page 3

Fire Near Feilding

THE "FLAXMILL" TOTALLY

DESTROYED,

Yesterday afternoon a fire broke out in the farm residence of Mr James Munro, on the Awahuri road. The building was popularly known as the " Flaxmill," and was situated about a mile and a half from Feilding It was erected some 14 or 15 years since, and was originally intended as a flax and flour mill combined, but was never used for its intended purpose. Mr Munro came into possession of it about 10 years ago, and converted it into a comfortable place of abode, having spent a considerable sum of money upon it. The whole suite of buildings comprised an eight-roomed dwellinghouse of two storeys, together with stabling, cart shed, hayloft, and other farm conveniences, the size of the block being about 90 feet by 22. It appears that about half past six in the morning Mrs Munro called the attention of her husband, who was milking, to a smell of soot, and on searching for the cause, he discovered that the chimney of the living room was slightly on fire ; but he promptly put it out, and no further harm was suspected. Shortly before one o'clock, however, the family were sitting at dinner, when they heard a crackling, and on Mr Munro going outside he saw flames coming up through the roof of the house near the said chimney. He ran to let the horses out of the stable, and then, taking an axe, attempted to rush upstairs, but was driven back by the fire and smoke. In the meantime the other inmates made an effort to save what they could, but the flames had got such hold of the building that they only succeeded in getting a few things out, which were chiefly articles of bedding and clothing, of the value of about £2. Shortly afterwards a few other persons were on the spot, including several Volunteers who were on their way to the Butts, and while these did what they could in attempting to sare goods, &c, their efforts were rendered all but futile by the overwhelming power of the flames. In about a quarter of an hour the whole place was ablaze, and not a vestige now remains but two chimneys, the one already referred to showing evidence of culpably bad construction, which there can be little doubt was the originating cause of the fire. There was an insurance of £250 on the buildings, and £50 on the furniture and effects, both in the Victoria office. This amount, however, bears no comparison to the value of the property destroyed. Much sympathy is felt for Mr and Mrs Munro, who are being kindly housed and cared for by their neighbor, Mr T. J. Henson.