A BIG BLAZE.

North Otago Times, Volume CVII, Issue 17169, 28 March 1927, Page 3

A BIG BLAZE.

Press Association.)

NARROW ESCAPES FORM DEATH ~ i

Per

AUCKLAND, Last Night. An old building of twenty-seven rcoms at the Great South Road tram tcrminus, Ellerslie, formerly the Harp of Erin Hotel. and latterly used as a boardinghousc was total]y dcstroyed by firc about two o'clock this morning. The occupants, Mrs Bidgood (carctaker), and her two daugliters and one son. also Mr A. Love, proprietor of a billiard saloon in the premises and his wife and family of three children, and1 an immigrant who was staying in the house for the night, all had narrow escapes, gctting out in their night altire. One of Mrs Bidgood's daughters had a particularh' thrilling experience. Waking up to flnd her bedroom full of smoke she rushed to the other side of the room to wake the other childr«en, and just as she did so her bed erashed through the floor into the billiard saloon helow. A motor accessory shop and petrol bowser station alongside the building were also demolished>by the flames. Fortunately the petrol in the tanks was not affecbed though the crowd watching the fire expected an explosion at any time. All that was left of the whole bulding was one chimney and four upright petrol pumps badly hurned.. It is understood that the building was insured for about £3000 in the Commercial Union, the New Zealand Insurance and the Eagle, Star and British Dominion offices. The petrol service station was not insured as the erection of it had not been quite completed.