THREE CONFLAGRATIONS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4643, 28 December 1923, Page 2

THREE CONFLAGRATIONS.

HOUSE IN THAMES ROAD GUTTEDShortly before 1 o’clock this morning the four-roomed residence of Mrs A. Black, in Thames. Road, was discovered to be on fire. It appears that Mr and Mrs W. McCullay were returning home after spending the evening with friends when they observed a glare in the back of the residence. Mr L. E. Cassrels, who lives opposite, was quickly aroused, ai d no time was lost in getting his car out, and, accompanied by Mr E. A. Porritt, he drove to the fire station, where the reel was got out while Mr Porritt rang the firebell. In the meantime Mr McCullay, with the help of Mr W Hamilton and some neighbours, had secured an axe- and attempted to force an entrance into the burning house, but the heat and smoke forced. them to relinquish their efforts. The brigade was quickly on the scene, and had a length of hose coupled up, but the fire, fanned by a stiff westerly breeze, had a complete hold of the residence, and all efforts to save it were fruitless. The brigade was considerably hampered in its work by the fact that in this locality the only water supply available is through a two-inch main, and there was not sufficient pressure to fill the hose. All that could be done was to prevent the flames from setting alight the nearby buildings. In less than half an hour the house was a smouldering heap. Nothing w'as saved, and Mrs Black will be a heavy laser, as it is understood that the house and contents were covered by a fire policy for only a small amount in the New Zealand Insurance office. The origin of the fire is a mystery, as the house has been un-oc-.upied since December 20, Mrs Black having left on that date to visit her son in Hawke’s Bay. Included in the contents destroyed with the house was a Broadwood grand piano. HIKUTAIA RESIDENCE ABLAZE. A tire occurred at Hikutaia last night, when an eight-roomed house, owned by Mr Bert Alley* junr., farmer, near Thames, and occupied by Mr George Keith, was totally destroyed. How the fire originated is a complete mystery, as the occupants left on holidays several days ago, taking with them, it is stated, their bedding, bedclothes, and wearing apparel. The flames were observed in the back of the house, but in the absence of water and fire-figh,ting appliances the spectators, who turned out in large numbers, could do nothing but watch the work of destruction proceed. At one time it seemed that the house of the cheese factory manager would catch, but a band of willing workers and the absence of wind averted danger. Had it caught, the whole row of houses, terminating with the cheese factory, would have been destroyed. The house was built about 1908 of heart of kauri timber for the manager of Howes and Williams’ timbermill when hi operation at HikutaiaOwing to the absence of the owner and tenant it is not ascertainable whether the house was insured nor whether the furniture had been removed prior to the departure of the latter. It was freely stated last night that negotiations for sale at £l2OO were almost completed. KOMATA FARMHOUSE DESTROYED Just as we were going to press word was received that the residence of Mr J. Howie was burned to the ground at 11-30 o’clock this morning. It is understood that Mr Howie and his sharemilker left home this morning to go to a neighbouring farm to help with the haymaking. The wifa of the sharemilker left the house apparently safe at about 9 o’clock to go into Paeroa.

The house is believed td be insured with the South British office, but Mr Howie carried no insurance on the furniture or his personal effects.