STARTLING EXPLOSION

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 323, 7 April 1928, Page 1

STARTLING EXPLOSION

Blaze in Remuera HOUSE TOTALLY DESTROYED ALARMED by a loud explosion at about 3.30 this morning residents of Bassett Road, Remuera, who rushed from their homes to ascertain the cause found flames issuing from a temporarily unoccupied dwelling. Within the space of about ten minutes it was totally destroyed.

HPHE house, a six-roomed dwelling at j A 118 Bassett Road, is occupied by j Mr. Hugh Montgomery, a Harbour j Board employee, but he and his family were away at the time, spending the Easter holidays at Kohimaramara. The first intimation the neighbours received that anything was amiss was a loud explosion sufficiently strong to blow the glass from the windows on to a neighbouring roof. Flames immediately burst through the roof and it was evident that nothing could save the house. The Parnell and Remuera branches of the City Fire Brigade, which were dispatched to the fire, concentrated their efforts on saving the adjoining houses, both of which were charred by the flames. Fortunately there was little wind and the brigade was successful in

| preventing the outbreak from spreadI ing. The house, which is very old. burned rapidly and shortly after the I discovery of the outbreak remained but a heap of smouldering debris. OCCUPANTS ABSENT Mr. Montgomery and family left home on Thursday, when, it is stated, everything was in order. There was nothing in the house to which the# - plosion can be attributed, and both the cause of the explosion, which must have occurred some time afier 'the fire started, and also the fire itself. is a mystery. Gas was laid on to the house and a califont was al-o 'installed. However, it is not thoug’.t • likely that this was responsible. The house was insured with ti e i New Zealand Insurance Company for * £SOO and the contents for £ 150.