FIRE DESTROYS RESIDENCE.

Shannon News, 10 December 1929, Page 2

FIRE DESTROYS RESIDENCE.

. At 4.20 on Saturday-morning the residence of Mr and Mrs J. Holden, situated in Thompson Street, Shannon, along with its contents was totally destroyed by fire. The building, which consisted of five rooms, with four rooms and washhouse detached, was well ablazc in the front portion when the lire was discovered, it being impossible to v enter the. house owing to the dense smoke. The Fire Brigade were quickly on the scene but were powerless to do anything to quell the iiames or save the detached rooms owing to the water not being laid along that Street. However, they were successful in removing to safety a quantity of furniture which had been stored in the detached rooms, this being.the property of Mr J. Simpson.

Fears were entertained for the safety of Mrs Holden and her young son, who had only taken up their 'residence in the house a week previously, they with the other members of the family having been residing in Palmerston North for some months. They had been seen by the neighbours the previous cveuing, but as there was no sign of them, constable Blaikie immediately made enquiries, ascertaining that they had gone to Palmerston North during the evening, later returning to Makerua, where they had -stayed the night with one of Mrs Holden’s sons.

The origin of the fire is not known, but it is believed to have started in the kitchen.

The dwelling and the contents wen. insured in the State offie*.