MANUNUI.

King Country Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 16, 8 February 1907, Page 3

MANUNUI.

Mr J. McCowan's house was totally destroyed by fire on Sunday moi'ning between 3 and 4 o'clock, the only things saved being a few blankets and a sewing- 'machine, Mr and .Mrs McCowan not (even having time to get their boots on. How the fire originated is one of those unaccountable affairs that will probably never be solved ; the house was quite new, the chimney was of iron, and everything seemed safe when the owner retired about half-past nine the night before. A brake full of people passed at 12 o'clock on their way home from a dance at the Manunui Hall, and another party passed between I and 2 o'clock, and at that time there was no apparent sign of fire, yet, when Mr McCowan awoke at 3 o'clock, the whole of one end of the house was ablaze. Mr McCowan is a heavy loser, as he has no insurance whatever, and has just got his house nicely finished throughout. The Pungapunga Timber Co. have the most of their machinery on the ground, and Mr Crabtree, of Crabtree and Sons, Wellington, who has the contract for supplying and erecting the same is here with a staff of workmen, busy getting the foundations down for the mill. Messrs Dunlop and Sarah have their l butcher shop under way, and expect to open on Saturday next. Mr Moffat, of Taumarunui, is getting a building erected with the intention of starting a store here. The potato blight did not do as much damage as was at first thought, and several have left tneir crops in the ground to ripen, as they consider the blight will not effect them.