FIRE AT TURUA.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4860, 5 August 1925, Page 2

FIRE AT TURUA.

LARGE DWELLING DESTROYED. HEAVY LOSS SUSTAINED. •Shortly after mid-day on Monday an eight-roomed house owned by Mrs E. A. Lindisay, of Auckland, .and occupied by Mr Ernest Aitkinson, was completely destroyer by fire at Turua, The house, which was situated about one and a half miles below TUrua, was a well-known landmark; The cause of the outbreak is unknown. It appears that Mrs. Aitkinson was washing clothes in an puthouse some distance away from the back of the residence and she had no knowledge of anything being amiss until her .attention was drawn by neighbours to the fact that the house - was On lire. With commendable courage Mrs-. Aitkinspn entered the burning building and rescued her two small children and carried them to safety. All were' overcome with the smoke and heat, but they soon revived in the fresh air. Mr Aitkinson was away from home, having left earlier in the morning to attend a sale at Turua, Fanned by a stiff south-westerly breeze the house, which was, built chiefly of Kahikatea timber, was soon a seething mass of-flame. Despite the efforts of neighbours practically nothing was saved. It fe understood that a big fire was left in the kitchen range. Tne front and b'a.ck doors were open, and the ■ wind carried the smoke through to It he front of the residence, thus accounting for Mrs-. Aitkinson not discovering the outbreak earlier. | It is believed that the furniture and ■contents were uninsured, and the insurances, if any, on the residence are inot available.