FIRES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 4 March 1908, Page 29

FIRES.

AUCKLAND. February 27. This afternoon a fire occurred at the premises of Mr J. Powell, dr&per, in Karangahape roatt, the . building ' being practically gutted. The building was owned by Messrs Peat Bros., who had it insured in the Royal Exchange office for £600. Mr Powell had a policy over the contents of the shop for £1000 in the Stale Fire Office. GISBORNE, February 26. The insurances on Llie premises destroyed by fire last nignt are £300 on the building and £1000 on the 6took, in the Norwich Union. Mr E. D. Smith estimates his damages at £150, covered in tfie New Zealand office. Mr Cox was uninsured ; his loss is £150. Mr C. Morris (Melbourne Cash Store) is believed to be xminsured. The estimated Io. ; s by water and removal is £2000. A briok wall finished two days previously helped to save the adjoining ehope. ELTHAM, February 27. A fire occurred on Dalziei road, a little out of town, at 1 o'clock this morning, whereby a six-roomed house belonging to S. Coleman was destroyed. The flames fetarted in the "lining for the hot water seri vice, and the inmates had to make their | escape, saving very little. The coachhouse i «aa also destroyed. The house was insured j for £500 in the Farmers' Mutual, and the furniture for £150. FEILDING. March 2. Beazer's sawmill, on the Sandon road, was destroyed by fire yesterday. The j damage is estimated at £3000. ! HO'KITIKA. February 28. A six-roomed nou«e in Bealy street, owned by W. Whitten and occupied by J. Maloney, was totally destroyed by fire at 3 o'clock "fctii« morning. The ocvupan^fi had to make their escape through a window. The brigade turned out smartly, and had the \yater on very quickly, thus saving , the adjoining residences. The building j ■was insured for £150 in the Victoria office, j and the furniture, which was all consumed j by the flames, for £150 in the Northern. Mrs Hawker's house, adjoining, was severely scorched. «&& injured for £100 in the Manchester office. ASHBURTON, March 2. A seven-roomed house at Tinwa^d, owned and occupied by Mrs C. Sutherland, was completely destroyed by fire yesterday. Nothing was saved, the occupants barely escaping. The house was insured for £350 in the Yorkshire office, and the piano and furniture in the Norwich for £200. ROXBURGH, February 28. ! An unoccupied stono-and-briok shop and dwelling combined, belonging to Mrs W. Gray, was destroyed by fire at an early j hour this morning. The place "had not been used for about three weeks. Shortly before 4 o'clock yesterday morning a fire was discovered in a four-roomed wooden house in Grcevenor street, Kensington, owned by Mr J. Cunningham, of Lees street, Dunedin, and occupied by Mr Thos. Robertson. The South Dunedin Fire Brigade put in a prompt appearance, and 1 succeeded in confining the fire to two rooms. The family were apprised of their danger by a man who, on passing the house, noticed the flames springing up. He knocked loudly on the door, and the inmates made a hurried exit, scantily clad. It is supposed that a fire which had been left burning in a grate on the previous night was the cause of the outbreak. The house was in^ure-1 ijy the Phoenix office for £200, and the fi.raiture for £100 in the Standard office. A four-roomed cottage and its effects, «iUiate at Rangahere, was destroyed by fire on Thursday. The building was owned by Mr James Hewit, a puntman. - Mrs j Hewit and family were away from home at i the time. Mr Hewit, expecting them back j about 4 o'clock, put on a brushwood fire, I and ha\ing done so was called away to take a passenger over the river. When standing on the far side of the river he noticed the house on fire, and though he returned quickly nothing could be done to save the place. The furniture was insured for £100 . in the Sun office. • I An unoccupied stone and wooden house at Roxburgh was destroyed by fire on ' Friday morning. The building, which was owned by Mr William Gray, of Mount i Benger, had been unoccupied for about a fortnight. The fire is believed to have originated in a cellar which contained rub- . bish, and was accessible from the exterior. The house was insured in the National office for £150.