FIRE AT HIMATANGI

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4495, 23 August 1930, Page 3

FIRE AT HIMATANGI

FOUR-ROOMED DWELLING DESTROYED.

A four-roomed dwelling and washhouse owned by Mrs. E. Beck, situated just off: -the Himatangi-Pal-merston North main highway, was totally destroyed by fire during the small hour of Thursday morning. Mrs. Beck was away at the time, having taken her balm to Palmerston North for attention, hut Mr. Beck was asleep in the house when he was aroused at 2 a.m. by the noise of the fire and dense smoke. The front portion of the house was then well alight and he was not able to save anything except an elec triestove in the kitchen.

Mr. Beck states that during the evening he had a fire in an open fire place in the front room, but everything was safe when he retired for the night. There are two possible explanations for the outbreak. One is that a spark from the fire ignited an accummulation of pine needles on the roof and about the chimney, there being . a number of pine trees near to the house which had caused an accummiilalion of needles on the roof from time to time. The other possible explanation is that a spank from a nearby scrub fire ignited the pine needles as there was a fairly large fire in a paddock about fifty yards to -the west of the house during the night and a westerly wind was blowing. The dwelling was insured in the National Insurance Office for £2OO, there being £75 on the furniture and personal effect s,a ad £2O on the washhouse in the same office.