CONFLAGRATION AT SEASIDE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3776, 5 April 1928, Page 3

CONFLAGRATION AT SEASIDE.

STORfc AND POST OFFICE DESTROYED. ——— At an early hour this morning Perreau’s store and Post Office at Manawatu Heads were totally destroyed by fire. The building comprised a large store, dining room and Post Office, the back portion being confined to living quarters comprising a kitchen and three bedrooms, while a washhouse was under the same roof.

In conversation with our representative this morning, Mr A. Steer said that everything was quite all right on retiring last night and no fire had been used except in the kitchen during the day. About 1 o’clock this morning Mrs Steer was up attending to the baby, and there was no sign of any fire at that hour.

At about a quarter to five, however, Mr Steer was aroused by the persistent mowing of a kitten in the store and switched on the light to investigate. It was then that he noticed smoke penetrating the bedroom waif from the store adjoining. He opened the door leading into the shop from the bedroom and discovered the front portion of the building filled with dense black smoke. He hastily aroused his wife and family and sent for? assistance. The building was then well alight, however, and it was impossible to do anything to save it. Mr Steer’s first thought after seeing that his family was removed to a place of safety, was for the contents of the Post Office, and with assistance, he burst open the outside door and rescued the mail and a number of papers before the flames licked into the room. By this time the flames had burst out everywhere and within an hour there was nothing left of the building but a mass of twisted iron and smouldering ashes. Scarcely any of Mr or Mrs Steer’s personal belongings were saved. A chest-of-drawers was got as far as the kitchen door when those engaged in removing it to a place of safety were driven from the building by the flames. The little kitten, which perished in the flames, wandered - into the store yesterday afternoon and Mr Steer befriended it, thinking that it would be useful in keeping do.wn mice during the winter. With that purpose in view, he'-locked the kitten in the store for the night. The fire evidently originated in the shop and it was the pitiful cries of the animal which aroused Mr Steer. Mr Steer made every effort to save the animal’s life and all the doors leading from the shop were opened, to allow it to \escape, but it was evidently overcome by smoke and perished in the flames. There was no water on hand, owing to the drought, but even so, it would have been impossible to save the building. Mr Steer rang for the Fire Brigade as soon as the fire was discovered, but it was impossible for it to be of any use at the seaside and so the Brigade did not turn out.

The cause of the outbreak is a mystery, but it was probably due to rodents, who, with the cold weather, are making for shelter. Only yesterday quite a number of mice were caught in the store. This is the second occasion in about six years that the store • has been destroyed by fire.

The stock arid fittings were insured in the Commercial Union Office for £6OO, and furniture and personal effects for £250. The amount on the building is not yet available.

Mr Steer is a heavy loser. He has met with quite a chapter of accidents of late. A few days ago he had the misfortune to lose a net while trawling at the seaside and last Thursday had his ear wrecked on the beach, this morning’s fire capping all his misfortune.