FIRE AND SUICIDE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 306, 4 February 1910, Page 5

FIRE AND SUICIDE.

NEAR ROTOR UA. By Telegraph.—Press Association Rotorua, Last Xi*ht. Word was received thi.- morning that the kitchen and men's dining room at Galatea station were totally destroyed at eleven o'clock last night. The 'ire was discovered bv one of the siati'ui hands named McGill, who routed the other men, but the flames had Uin complete possession of the huildiiu. The efforts of the men were directed ■>- wards saving the "homestead, which iliev succeeded in doing, although the bui! 1ings were separated by only a few fee:. During the progress of the fire wat.»v ptfvfi out. A part of the homestead was scorched and all (h> contents of the kitchen totally destroyed. .Some of the men were burnt about the feet and lost a portion of their hair. A search was made for tbe cook ln-i night and could not be found. This morning the cook -was found hanging in a small building at the rear of the kitchen. TTo had evidently tied a idee" of sash cord round his neck, stood on a talne, and jumped off. He was quite deaTl when found. Ao cause is assigned for th n act. The cook, who was named Jas. Evans, bad been at the station for about six weeks. He came from Napi'r. where'He had been on a station as cook for four years. He was about .sixty years of age.