SIX-ROOMED DWELLING DESTROYED.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4040, 11 January 1930, Page 3

SIX-ROOMED DWELLING DESTROYED.

i FERE IN REEVE STREET.

iFire 'broke out in the dwelling occupied by -Mr. O. Dawson and family, Reeve •Street, at about s 1.30 o'clock last night and totally destroyed the (building, the occupants "barely having- time to escape in their night attire. The building was insured for '£3so in the 'State Fire Office and there was also a coyer of £125 in •the same office on the furniture and •personal effects. In conversation with our representative this morning, Mr. Dawson said the cause of the outberak ~ was a complete mystery.' There was a coal fire in the range during the early part of the evening, but both lie and his wife had always exercjised the greatest care in seeing that everything was safe before retiring each night. The family went to bed about 9 p.m. and were aroused about_2 a.m. by ithc noise of a fire and subsequently found that the ikitehen and rear ( rooms were then well alight. The fire appeared to have started in the kitchen and possibly in the roof in .this locality as all the ceilings were .burning when the occupants made good their escape. Mrs. Dawson ■ escaped in her night attire and only had time to snatch up a handful of clothes from a wardrobe as she tied from the room. Mr. Dawsoii was aids'to drag a chest of drawers out of the building but apart from this nothing of value., was saved. Even Mr. Dawson’s bicycle which had been parked on the verandah was lost. The Brigade was summoned by telephone by Mr. G. Williams, who. lives near by but by the time the alarm was given the house was practically a hopeless ruin. The •brigade, however, turned out promptly, but were powerlgss to do anything to save the building. There is no fire plug in Reeve 'Street, the nearest water main being in Purcell Street. A lead was run out from th£,plug iii this locality and tnken^ across the paddocks to riveeve St. and played on the fire. Mi*, and Mrs. Dawson and family were accommodated for the remainder of the night by friends.