GREAT FIRE AT MANGAWHARE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 243, 30 January 1875, Page 2

GREAT FIRE AT MANGAWHARE.

Property worth £5,000 Destroyed. [From the Auckland Evening Star.'] News has reached us by the Riverhead steamer, that Messrs Brown, Campbell and Co’s gum store at Mangawhare, on the Northern Wairoa has been totally destroyed by fire. Mr. Marriner who was iu charge, and by whose name the store was generally known, came to town by the s.s. Gemini and the story of the catastrophe, as told by him, is as follows :— The store being close to the river, there was plenty of water available, and, as was supposed, the fire was put out completely without much damage being done. In order to make doubly sure that no sparks were left alive, part of the flooring was broken down and the woodwork underneath thoroughly examined. It was discovered that many of the joists were affected with dry-rot, and these were carefully overhauled, and where they were charred, scraped, and otherwise seen to. Mr. Marriner, when the fire broke out, had left the store but a few minutes aud had gone to a neighbouring paddock at some little distance about some work which required, bis attention. While there he saw smoke in the direction of the store. He went to it at once, and discovered the store on fire. As we have already said it was put out, as everyone thought, completely. In the evening Mr. Marriner retired to rest, everything being safa to all appearances. He was awoke suddenly, and on turning out, found that the flames had broken out again in the same place, and this time had taken strong hold of the store. Every effort was made to put them cut, but without success, the place being burnt to the ground before daylight. The store contained goods of all descriptions to the extent of between £4,000 and £5,000. Of these only about £3OO worth have been saved. The store with the contents was insured in tlie New Zealand office for £3OO. Ten tons of kauri gum had been sent off for shipment but a day or two before. The building was 44 feet long by 30ft broad, and 12 feet high. Several smaller stores aud some dwelling houses were close by, but they escaped ignition.