FIRES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2005, 22 July 1919, Page 2

FIRES.

The clanging of iho fir obeli abont two o’clock on Sunday morning awakened a large number of residents from their slumbers, but the majority did not take the matter seriously, assuming that it was only some young bloods continuing the peace celebrations. Unfortunately, however, it was a genuine alarm, the scone of the outbreak being a sixroomed residence in Johnston Street, occupied by Mr D. McCauley, and owned by Mr F. S. Easton, When discovered by the inmates the tire had a good bold, and it was impossible to save anything, those in the bouse getting out with Jittle more ■than their night attire. Mr McCauley is at present absent in Christchurch. Mrs McCauley was at: the pictures on Saturday night, and on returning home lit a fire to boil the kettle. When she retired at about Imlf-pTist eleven there was still a small fire in the fireplace, and it is surmised that a spark from same was the cause of the outbreak. The building, which was constructed of totara, burned very fiercely, and the few people that turned out could do nothing but watch the progress of the flames. The furniture and effects were insured for £l5O in tiie Commercial Union Office. There was no insurance on the house.

Last night, at about half-past seven o’clock, there was another outbreak, an old building in Main Street, for some time unoccupied, the property of the Estate of the late Mrs P. Collins, being totally destroyed. The origin of this outbreak is a mystery, but the doors of the building were unlocked, and the building could be entered by anyone. It was probably the oldest building in Foxton, and had been unoccupied for some time, and it is understood that it was intended to pull it down this week and remove it for use as firewood.