FIRES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2813, 12 February 1908, Page 53

FIRES.

AUCKLAND.

-.■'ebruary 5.

At Avondale to-day a siv-roomed house, owned and occupied by Mrs Mary Blox.ham, was totally destroyed by fiie. There were insurances on the building and furniture for £470 in the State and London and Lancashire offices.

WHANGAREI

February 10.

A fire at Hauto, destroyed a bush 6hanty occupied by the men on Mr Brown's contract. The men were working at the time. The cook left the shanty a few minutes previously The men lost all their belongings. ]\lr Brown sustained a heavy loss, the total damage being estimated at o\er £200. No paiticulars regarding insurance are available.

WAIROA, February 6.

A fire was discovered at 11.30 this morning in a stack of wool in a. yard near the Haw-ke's Bay Farmers' Store, at North Clyde. Energetic measures were taken to put out the fire and "thus save the adjoining buildings.' Forty-two bales of wool were burnt, valued at £300. The wool was insured. Had the fire occurred in the night nothing could have the premises and His Majesty's Theatre. The theory for the fire is spontaneous combustion.

NEW PLYMOUTH. February 10,

The bush fires have broken out along the coast west of Mount Egmont. A house on the Kahui road was destroyed^ on Sunday, and sevoi'al other* are having an anxious time, but the local rain this morning was timely. A lady anrl children driving through a bush road had a trying time, being o\ertaken by the fire. The childien's hats and parcels in the trap were burnt he'orc assistance arrived. At Avvatuna, south of the mountain, several places have been burnt down, including a large dwelling. A sawmill had a narrow escape, although a quantity of timber was destroyed. MASTERTON, February 10. There was a recrudescence of the fire on Saturday at Rangitumana. Gladstone, and Opaki. No serious damage resulted at Opaki, but. a quantirv of fibie was consumed. hish winds prevailing to-day aie rccardod with some apprehension. A threshing plant belon&ing to Mr Mutric, a Wairarapa resident, was found to be on fire, when travelling behind a traction engine. No means of extinguishing ■the fire were available, and the mill was complet-elv destroyed. It is not known whether- it >uas- insured or not. The fire is supposed to have been caused by a spark from the traction engine. When first noticed by the engine-driver the machinery was a mass of flames. WELLINGTON. February 10. News is to hand that Messrs Beban and Gardiner's sawmill, two miles from Taihape. has been destroyed by bush fire*=. The mill was about cut out, ajid the plant was to have b&en moved shortly. BLENHEIM. February 5. A restaurant at Seddon. owned by D. Lambert and occupied by Mrs A. Bvford. was destroyed by fire e.irlv riiib morning-. The efforts of the bucket br <?ade were successful in saviva Fuller's general store adjoining. Insurances: Butldipg. £80 in the Phoenix and £65 in the Now Zealnnd; furniture. £100 in tho Liveipcol and London and Globe. NELSON- February 6. A house at Rrisrhf water, owned and occupied by H. G. Parke. was destroyed by fire this morning. The biiild»ip wa= insured for £175 in the Norwich T'nion office, and there was also a small policy on the furniture.