FIRE AT HAUTERE ROAD.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 25 August 1919, Page 2

FIRE AT HAUTERE ROAD.

ME E. GEEATHEAB’S HOUSE DESTROYED. Residents of Otaki and vicinity noticed a bright light in the direction "of Hautere road just before,9 pan. on 1 Saturday, and there was much speculai. J , tion as to the cause. It was ascer- * tainetl that Mr E. Greathcad’s residence on Hautere road, just at the bend j going on to Mr Bowman was alight, and the building was totally destroyed. When the fire was discovered by Mr* Greathcad, who was in the back portion . of the building, tho flames had a big | hold on the front rooms. Mr GreatI head was away in Otaki at the time, j and the children were in bed. The house was ‘connected by telephone, but the flames had such a hold that Mrs Greathcad was unable to use it to give the alarm. She hurriedly got the chilJ (iron dressed and out of the house, but j very little of the furniture, etc., could be saved, though a few boxes of ar- . tides, ready packed, were got' out. ] Owing tc the somewhat isolated situ?. I tion of the house, no help was at hand for a while, and by that time it was ; too late to save any but a very few articles. i The house was u large, comfortable dwelling, and was insured in the State Fire Office for £4OO. while the furniture | was uninsured. Therefore Mr Grc-at-I head will be a very heavy loser. Very ' great sympathy is felt for Mr and Mr* Greathcad in their loss, j Mr Greathcad recently disposed of his farm to Mr G. Wells, and his dispersal sale is to be held to-morrow; < therefore everything wa? in readiness : for removal in a few days. The fire started in the front portion : of the building, but Mr and Mrs Greathead are totally at a loss to understand how it could have originated.