FIRES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 127, 7 September 1910, Page 4

FIRES.

EXTENSIVE DAMAGE IN DEVONPORT. SEVERAL BUILDINGS DESTROYED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. | Auckland, Last Night. A serious fire occurred this afternoon at King Edward Parade, Devonport, which destroyed Ventnor House, a large boarding establishment containing 32 rooms, and four dwelling houses. Noth- ! ing is left but a mass of smouldering , debris. Three other places were dam* ! aged. The fire broke out in Ventnor House, as a result of some clothes being ' left near the kitchen stove to dry. The ] Devonport Fire Brigade turned out and made a good fight, but were unable to stay the progress of the fire, till a clean sweep had been made for over 100 yards. The names were so strong that member* of the Brigade were wrapped in mat* tresses to enable them to stand the heat while playing with the hose on the burning building. Following is a list of the places destroyed or damaged, with the insurances as far as can be ascertained:—Ventnor House, owned by A. Watson and occupied by Mrs. Lewis—totally destroyed. The building was insured for £2OOO iin the Alliance Co., and the furniture for £BSO in the South British. ! A six-roomed house owned by Mr. A, Watson and occupied by Miss HoooVtotally destroyed. The building was i» sured for £270 in the Alliance Co., and the furniture for £l3O in the Royal. Three two-storeyed houses owned by the Auckland Grammar School and occupied , respectively by Messrs. W« Wright, Williams, and Sinley—totally destroyed. Each building was insured for £4OO in the New Zealand Insurance' Co. Williams had £l5O imurance oa his furniture in the Norwich Union, ant Spinley £2OO in the New Zealand Co. A six-roomed house owned by the Grammar School Board and occupied by Mr. Warbrick—partially destroyed. The insurance on the building was £2OO ia the New Zealand Co. The houses o« Mrs. Swinnerton and Mr. G. Sandford were slightly damaged, i _