FIRE IN EIGHTH AVENUE.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 7 December 1916, Page 2

FIRE IN EIGHTH AVENUE.

Fortunately the Helensville . J! Fire-bell —we possess but one, at : the top end of the town —seldom "] gives an alarm here, but on Friday night last at about halfpast ten o'clock, someone was • tugging away at the rope, and so • •. roused the people in the vicinity ~ of Helensville South to the xfact • -. that a fire was raging close at hand, which proved to be in the ' house next the vacant allotment corner of Commercial Road and Eighth Avenue, tenanted by Mr" George Bennett, junr., and owned by Mr Wm. Downer. Mr W. Bradly, who resides next the vacant lot fronting Commercial.*.' road, was the first to give the" ! alarm, which soon brought Mr ] Spinley, who resides next to the \ house which was ablaze in Eighth Avenue, and together with others who were immediately upon the scene, formed a bucket brigade, and, managing to break into the ! house, soon had the fire under hand. It was quite ten minutes • -->^ after the first alarm before the \ Fire Brigade arrived on the scene, by which time the fire was * out, and all further damage was « averted. Mr and Mrs Bennett' -> were out at the time attending : the Bowling Club's concert, and***^ knew nothing of the fire till] arriving near home. The origin 1 of the conflagration was simple, j the tenants having left the I hanging-lnmp burning on going out for the evening. The chain with evidently a weak link or two in it, had given way, as the lamp, which was found upon the floor, had evidently bpunced off the tabie in falling from the qeiling. Much damage wa.s dontj to the furniture in the room in '■ question, and also in the- adjoining bed-room, while the matchlined partitions and ceiling were ' very much charred. On the whoLe it was a narrow escape of the six-roomed house and contents being totally destroyed. The owner (Mr Downer) had £200 J insurance on the house, and Mr 1 Bennett's furniture and effecta 1 Were covered to the extend of £IQO, and £5Q on 'the piano; all with the : Norwich 'TjSiqn.'IMr Bennett reckq'ns : hisife*sL«si amount to about £85, a&TJßlqst some new. clothing qesiojes toss and damage to furniture j tK§ pianp escaped injury. Mr L)owner, who built' the hqusse himself out qf good, solid heart of kauri, estimates that it will cost something li^e £§0 to effect iftj repairs. •*' §1