St. Andrew’s Vicarage Destroyed by Fire

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 760, 5 September 1929, Page 1

St. Andrew’s Vicarage Destroyed by Fire

TWO OUTBREAKS HEAVY LOSSES SUFFERED At an early hour this morning there was an outbreak of fire in St. Andrew's vicarage in St. Andrew’s Road, Epsom, when the Parnell and Remuera Fire Brigades rushed to the scene and saved all but two front rooms. Four hours later, after daybreak, another outbreak occurred in the same place and in spite of the brigades’ great fight, completely burned the vicarage to the ground, leaving the Rev. T. P. Willis, who occupied the house, a very heavy loser. “JT it indeed difficult to discover what caused the fire/’ said the Rev. Mr. Willis this morning:. His family and he retired at an early hour last evening and the fire which had been burning in the grate in the sitting room during the evening, was put out. At 2 o’clock this morning the household was awakened with the rooms full of smoke and within a short time the fire, which is thought to have broken out in the sitting room, had a good hold. All the occupants escaped burns or any injury. The Parnell and Remuera Fire Brigades were on the scene within 10 minutes from the time of the outbreak and managed to save all, but the two front rooms which were completely gutted. Mr. Willis and his family were then taken in by a neighbour, but shortly before 6 o’clock the house was noticed to be again on fire and was burning fiercely when the alarm was sent through to the fire station. Although faced with almost an impossible task the brigade fought furiously, but failed to prevent the building from being totally destroyed. All that is left standing of the vicarage, which is situated behind St. Andrew’s Church, is a short portion of the back wall, the remainder being a burned heap of debris and ruin. A “HOODOO”

There appears to be a “hoodoo” on the vicarage, which is a large house of nine rooms. A month ago a fire broke out but a good save was made and little damage resulted. It was thought that the cause on that occasion was a defective chimney and repairs were immediately effected. But it is strange that this morning’s outbreak occurred in, or near, the same place and it is held that other than a defect in the electric wiring, the chimney may again have been the cause.

Mr. Willis and his family are heavy losers. The insurance of £3OO on the furniture is far insufficient to cover the losses. Perhaps the greatest loss of all was the large and most valuable library. Many of the books will be most difficult to replace. Besides the £3OO insurance on the furniture, the house, w T hich is church property, is insured for £9OO in the South British Insurance Company.