FIRES.

Otago Witness, Issue 4033, 30 June 1931, Page 34

FIRES.

VALUABLE HOMESTEAD DESTROYED. BLENHEIM, June 22. The Benopai homestead, owned by Mr W. G. Rudd, was completely destroyed by fire at 3 o’clock this morning. The building, a very fine structure, contained 14 rooms, and was insured for £2500 and the furniture and effects for £lOBO in the Alliance office. Practically nothing was saved. Miss Betty Rudd, in leaping from an upstairs window, suffered minor injuries to her foot. OUTBREAK QUICKLY SUPPRESSED. TIMARU, June 23. About 10.15 to-night fire was discovered in a workroom in the upstairs portion ot the premises occupied by Messrs Charles Begg and Co., in Stafford street, and the Arcade. The flames had a strong hold when the brigade arrived, but a good pressure of water quickly subdued them. The damage by water to the stock in the shop beneath was very heavy. The building is owned by Mr W. M’Keown. The insurances were not available to-night. HOTEL DESTROYED. AUCKLAND, June 27. The Railway Terminus Hotel, the largest building in Helensville, was destroyed by fire early this morning; A westerly gale was blowing, and the brigade could do nothing but save the neighbouring buildings. The adjoining baker’s shop was gutted. The hotel boarders and staff escaped by the fire escapes, losing their personal effects. The building was owned by the Stewart Estate, and was valued at £15,000. The licensee was Mrs E. Morrison. LARGE RESIDENCE DESTROYED. A spectacular fire, the reflection of which was plainly visible in the city, occured at Burkes on Tuesday evening, when a two-storeyed wooden residence of some 10 or 11 rooms, occupied by Airs Andrew Johnston, a widow, was burned completely to the ground. The outbreak was first noticed shortly after 0.30 a.m., and the flames, fanned by the strong south-west wind, soon enveloped the old building, and rapidly en-, compassed its ruin, leaving only one of the chimneys standing. The structure burned with great fierceness, lighting up the whole township, and the blue flames, caused by the fusing of the electric wires, added to the spectacular effect. As the locality in which the house stood is outside the Ravensbourne fire area, the services of the volunteer brigade in the borough were not available, and since there were no other fire-fighting appliances capable of coping with the outbreak, the flames had full play, and in less than an hour the building had been reduced to ruins.

_ Showers of sparks' were carried a considerable distance by the wind, endangering some of the neighbouring- houses, but none of these caught fire, though the occupants had some anxious moments. In view of the possibility of danger from the flying sparks, the residents of the township maintained a watch for some time after the main outbreak had subsided. The house, which is understood to have been unoccupied, was formerly the residence of the late Air Henry Wise, of whom Airs Johnston-is a daughter.