FIRE BADLY DAMAGES HOLY CROSS CONVENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 450, 4 September 1928, Page 16

FIRE BADLY DAMAGES HOLY CROSS CONVENT

BRIGADE’S HARD FIGHT CROWD SAVES FURNITURE After a hard struggle the Parnell and Remuera Fire Brigades, with a number of voluntary workers, succeeded ip saving the front rooms and most of the furniture of the Convent of the Holy Cross at 56 The Drive, Epsom, which caught fire about five o’clock yesterday evening. rpHE convent, which is usually occupied by six nuns and a number of boarders, was empty at the time of the outbreak. The boarders were away on holiday, four of the nuns were away for the day and the remaining two had left the convent a quarter of an hour before to buy some goods at Greenwood’s Corner. As they returned they saw flames and smoke coming from the back of the building. A crowd soon collected and helped to rescue pianos and furniture, saving almost all the valuable furniture before the fire reached it. After some time one of the helpers remembered the fire brigade. An alarm-box was broken and two engines, one from Parnell and one from Remuera, answered the call. The firemen were faced with an almost hopeless task. The back of the building was well alight and smoke was beginning to come through the wall on the Empire Road side. Even in front of the building the heat was very great. Two leads of hose were brought out and played on the front of the building, gradually driving the fire back to the rear. Later one lead of hose was played on the back part and after a long struggle the flames were extinguished. The back half of the building was very badly damaged, but in the front practically the only harm done was from smoke and water. However, the fire had such a hold in the back rooms that there will be considerable loss on the property. The building was insured for £2,000 and the contents for £950, both with the Sun Insurance Company.