Fire at Waitoa.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 368, 15 May 1889, Page 2

Fire at Waitoa.

MB J. B. SMITH'S HOUSK BURNED DOWN-

On Friday night last the house of Mr J. B. Smith, of Wailosi, wliieh, since Mr Smith left some months ago to reside in Sydney, has been tenanted by Mr G. A. Comes and family, was completely demolished by fire. At the time of the occurrence Mrs Gomes. a grown up daugh ter, and five or six children were sleeping in the house. During the day a fire had been burning in an iron chimney, in a room known as the nurser}'. This chimney was built on raised blocks, the hearth being an open one with only one thickness of bricks on the wood foundation, and it is believed that the fire got down between the bricks, and so got in contact with the woodwork. Everything appeared safe when the inmates retired, about ten p.m. Mr Cornea' son Agustus, left Te Aroha about half pust eleven to ride home, and on reaching the entrance gate saw the flames just bursting out a-t the back. lie with great difficulty aroused Mrs Comes and . the f-uuily, who escaped half dressed. Young, Cornes tried to put out the fire by throwing water on it, but it had obtained too great a hold, and within an hour the whole building was burned to the ground. Nearly all Mr Comes' furniture and effects were burned, together with .wearing apparel, etc., ctd., and hislpssisyefy heavy, having no instirnnce \vhatever,ahd much sympathy is felt for him and the family in sustaining such a great loss. Mr Comes is unaware as to wh.eth.er the house was insured or not.". 'The,, escape of the' family was most remarkable and providential, as the house was fast filling wjtlr smoke %vhen young Comes arrived on the scene and aroused the sleeping inmates.