FIRES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 136, 10 June 1903, Page 4

FIRES.

On Tuesday evening Mr Edmunds' new house on the Breakwater-road, near the Mission Station, was completely destroyed by fie. The outbreak was noticed about 6.30. and the flames rapidly spread. As there is no water service in tbe locility, which is seme distance beyond the town boundary, the services of the Fi' e Brigade were of no avail, so the building was burnt out. ft was Mr Edmunds' intention to have removed into his new residence in a day or two, and preparations to to that end were in progress when the unfortunate fire occurred, We understand that the buildiDg was partly insured, but that tbe less falling on Mr Edmunds will approach £3OO. Inquiries have failed to furnish any clue as to the cause of the fire.

On Monday evening about 8.30 a membtr of the Fire Brigade, while passing the Courtenay-street school, noticed a blaz9 in one of the rooms and promptly broke a window and effected an entrance. He found that the fire was running up the mantelpiece, being fed from below by wood stacked ready for use next day, It would seem that the ashes of the fire in use during the day bad been raked on one side and the new wood put ready for lighting, some also being laid at the Bide of the fireplace. Probably the embers became red hot and ignited the fresh wood. Fortunately not much damage was dene, but the school had a narrow escape of destruction.