RAILWAY STATION DESTROYED.

Otaki Mail, 5 November 1923, Page 3

RAILWAY STATION DESTROYED.

FIRE AT TE lIORO. Thv railway station nr. To Horn was dcstroyod by iirc at about 2.30 vesterJuv morning. The unuse of tile, lire is i, 'mystery. ‘Mr. C. J. Cooper, tablet purler, left tile station shortly before the outbreak when there was not the slightest sign of lire. -At. the time mentioned hv noticed a glare from his hut opposite and immediately saw it mis the station. Being tumble to subdue the flames he aroused Air. .1. [)ny, also it tablet porter, and Airs. Day, who live adjacent. Mr. Cooper then rushed to the bunting building and made frantic tempt? to stive the tiablet apparatus, and although he struggled litird in tii" face of great odds was unable to achieve his ’object, in fact he ivus so overcome by smoke that lie had to he almost, dragged from the building. Jn the meantime Air. Day hail arrived and made uts-uticnipt to save sonic articles but .3 heat was „o intense 1 and the building to much alight that failed. Others also endeavoured to assist, but practically nothing was saved. The structure, v.h ; ch was old and *\r\- and contained a deal of dry jr'i timber, was demolished in a few , minutes. The building, which contain- j c-j three compartments, was regarded j a- th" neatest, along on the line as far I as the interior wav coticeniett. whuc both tablet porlers are most careful in I looking after the Department's inter-j ests. It i> surmised that the lire broke out in 'll" middle compartment, where kerosene was stored. ■ A train passed only a short time before the Mitlbreak. and there was then no sign of lire. A gang of workmen was early on the scene on Sunday morning and a hut. in which telephones have been erected, was fitted it] 1 as a station.