Fires.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7812, 3 May 1905, Page 2

Fires.

OUTJIHEAK IN SOUTH ROAD. Tho Hrc bell rang out the alarm it 7.20 Inst evening, the scene of the mtbreak being a two-storied wooden milding situated ut the corner ol Kelt and South Roads, tenanted by Mr Henry llusby, carrier, and owned >y Air .1. A. Maisey. The house con■isioi 01 eight, moms and a soil liiV, aiivl had been occupied by Air llusby for the past two years. The names spread with untaxing rapidity, and the building was en- \ eloped in a few minutes. The brigade were on the spot with commendable promptitude, though th( West Knd men were last on the s* through having mistaken the I. • ity. There was a high wind jiving at the time, wh'eh fanned Haines into a big blaze, and it wa realised from the start thai the. was no hope of saving the buildinj. The firemen were somewhat ham peied at the slurt through the ir different pi assure of water from tl.i iline.h main at this point, but good stream was soon avuilai Lieutenant lioon superintended '>, ations, and the men worked >' fct jans. Tlm'r ufforls, however, Wei. futile, as tho building went likt matchwood, and was soon completely gutted. The adjoining premises, occupied by 'Mr C. Tuubridge, were in imminent danger of destruction but foi the opportune arrival of the brigade, The woodwork was already scorched and blistered when the hose was turned on. The building, so far as could bt ascertained last night, was insured with tho South llrilish office foi The furniture was uninsured and considerable sympathy will b< felt for Mr and Mrs Uusby and family at their loss. Messrs Tunbridgc I). Barrett, Gardner, Christison, ant other neighbours did all in theii power to save the furniture and ef- [ fects, but were only able to carry , out a small portion before the con- , migration rendered further salvagt work impossible. , The origin of the lire is unknown, a but when discovered by Mr Huthance, brother-in-law of Mr llusby, il j had a good hold on the uppei rooms, which were unoccupied. ". A peculiar feature of the occurrenci is that an incipient outbreak of fin was subdued by the occupants in tin

,vas subdued by the occupuntH in lliu early hours of Mondny morning, being located between the bnck chinif iney and the woodwork.

BUILDING DESTROYED AT BELL BLOCK.

About 1 a.m. on Tuesday a lire occurred at Hell Block, resulting in the destruction of a building owned by Mr O. Moby, and formerly known us the Old Village Inn, portion of which had been renovated and con- ' verted into a dwelling. The pre- I mists had been very little occupied for a considerable time past, and not at all last week. The outbreak" was discovered by Mr I'nte, whosu bakery udjyins 'the premises. lie was awakeued by the barking of his dogs, and lost no time in arousing the neighbours. The structure was well! ablaze, the tire having apparently started about the centre of the building. Realising that there was no possible hope of saving the old premises, the party turned their atten sion to preventing 'the spread of the [lames to Air' Vote's bakery, which was in danger. They succeeded in their efforts, but, on the 'opposite side portion of Mr Downo's fence was dainagod. Mr Moby's building was completely suite I. The loss is partly covered by an insurance policy of £250 with tf.e National Insurance Company. The origin of the lire is a mystery.