LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81873, 24 October 1906, Page 3

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

FIRE IN NEWTOWN. FOUR HOUSES DESTROYED. NARROW ESCAPE OF VICTORIA HOME. (Per Press Association.) Wellington. October 23. Yesterday'" series of fires was continued to-day with a big blaze in Main Street, Newtown. Tlu- result was that three houses were demolished and one structurally ruined. Ihe insurances run to about £sooo, and the damage to .£4OOO. The water supply was again ocfectivc, the break in the Wainui main not being repaired, but the supply improved. After the firemen had been at work for an hour or so ; the wind changed from north to south, and this undoubtedly saved the houses on the south side of ihe street, but it placed the Victoria Heme for chronic invalids, which is just above Mam street, in a precarious position, and the Home was only saved after great exertion. In order to help saw the Home, the Hospital staff and a number of navvies working in the neighbourhood rail ed to the scene and did splendid work. All the patients, some fortv in number, were removed. The connecting wooden fences near the Home were demolished, with some intervening sheds, in order to leave the flamff no means of approach. The labour necessary to preserve the buildings was immense, but it succeeded. The houses in Main street destroyed bv fire wen- occupied by Mrs Stevens.' Mrs Chant. Mr Twist, and Mr Miller. The outbreak had its origin in the washhouse at Mrs Chant - hou«, the wall of which ignited. The occupants of the Home were removed back to their quarters in the evening.

During the afternoon the'y were visited by Lady Plunket. who motored out to the scene on learning the peril in which the building was plac ed by the fire.