FIRE AT SOUTH TOWN BOUNDARY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 549, 4 February 1878, Page 2

FIRE AT SOUTH TOWN BOUNDARY.

A four-roomed wooden cottage, occupied by Mr. Philip Webber, and situated on the hill at the rear of Mr. Christie's residence, was entirely destroyed by fire during the early part of this morning. Mr. and Mrs. Webber had been away from home during the evening, and on returning aboiit eleven o'clock, found the back portion of the premises in flames. An alarm was immediately given, and a number neighbours and others from a distance at once rushed to the scene of the fire. Every effort was used to extinguish the flames, but without success. The supply of water was very limited, and was so close to the house as to be practically unavailable. The fire burned with great rapidity, and in an hour the building had beei} biinjed to the ground. It was with the utmost difficulty that Mr. Webbpr was ahle to save a few of hi* boxes, but the whole of the furniture was destroyed. The cottage was the property of Mr, J. Booth, and was insured in the New Zealand Insurance Company for LIOO. Mr. Webber estimates his loss at L 250, but was only insured for LIOO in the Norwich Union Company. The cause of the fire is mystery, and Mr. Webber is unable to form any idea as to its origin. Mr. and Mrs. Webber had only been absent for an hour and a half, and they state thav wliet} they lef everything appeared to be' all right, there "being n<> signs of fire about, the place at the time.