FIRE AT KEREPEEHI.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5250, 12 March 1928, Page 2

FIRE AT KEREPEEHI.

GENERAL STORE BURNED.

OCCUPIER’S! HEAVY LOSS.

A building of seven or eight large at Kerepeehi, owned by Mr H. Kerby of Thames, and occupied by Mr A. G. Kneebone as a residence and general store, was completely destroyed by fire early on Saturday evening..

. Mr and Mrs Kneebone and family had left about ’5 p.m. for New Brighton, where they own a week-end bach and store, and the fire was first notked bout 7 p.m. A Maori boy reported to some employees) of the Lands Drainage Department that the roof round the chimney was red-hot. The men secured a fire extinguisher and broke a window, but the draught caused the fire, which appeared to b® centred .about the kitchen range, to spring up with such vigour that nothing could be to save the building.

The glare, which before long could be seen from all parts of the county, attracted a large crowd, and efforts were concentrated on removing a quantity of cased benzine and oils from a shed about 15ft away. This was accomplished and the fire was prevented from spreading to the shed and a wash-house.

An electric power pole in front of tlie shop was set alight, but Mrs Devereaux communicated with the Power Board’s troubleman at Ngatea and the current was cut off before the wires fell- The fire on the pole was later extinguished. The building was erected about four years ago by Mr H., Kerby, of Thames, and cost over £lOOO. It was insured for £6OO. Until about} nine months ago it was used by Mr J. Woods as a boardinghouse, but when the Lands Department put off a®. the single men it was taken Over by Mr Kneebone for a store. It is understood that Mr Kneebone’s stock arid furniture were Insured, but details are not yet available. This is the second store that has been burned on this section. Scotcher’s store was burned about 15 years ago, and about eight years ago a residence owned by Mr Ko.rby and occupied by Mr T. Burke w'as burned.