HOUSE DESTROYED

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 304, 18 August 1932, Page 4

HOUSE DESTROYED

COMPLETELY GUTTED ! RESIDENCE IN SOPHIA STREEJ ^ DAMAGED BY i FIRE INCENDIARISM SUSPEGTED J Soon after the "Post" went t0 ^ press yesterday morning, a f}re ; broke ont in a four-roomed hotis6 ! owned by Mr. A. J. Brown, in sop. ; hia Street. Although unoccupied at the time of the outbreak, the house ^ was tenanted by a carrier, Mr. T. B0- 5 bertson, who is frequently absent ? from Rotorua. At 2.45 a.m., Mr. A. Butt, who re- ? sides next door was awakened by the ^ sound of crackling and prompth ] gave the alarm. The brigade was ' quiekly on the scene and found the entire building enveloped in flanies ^ Although considerable difficulty was experienced'^rri**"Sndihg the seat ofthe fire, excellent. work was perforhied by the firemen and the flaihes ^ were quiekly quelled. Although J;he eause of the fire js as ,yet unknown it is stated that in- i cendiarism is suspected, but when questioned on this matter the poliee were reticent. It is understood I however, that investigations are be' - ing made. The building which was insui'ed with the National Office for 1600 ' was completely- gutted, only the ' walls remaining.