FIRE AT WAI-TOI-TOI.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 April 1922, Page 8

FIRE AT WAI-TOI-TOI.

SETTLER’S SERIOUS LOSS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) On Tuesday evening last, somewhere between 10 p.m. and midnight, the residence of Mr. Jas. Rockett, at Wai-toi-toi, was totally destroyed by fire. The inmates of the house, consisting of Mr. and Mrs. Rockett, Mr. J. Fitzgerald and Miss A. Sanson, were visiting friends at Urenui at the time the outbreak must have occurred, and the first to reach the scene was Mr. W. Murray, who was returning to Urenui from Okoke about 11 p.m., and observed the blaze when coming over the Okoke Hill. The building was well alight when he arrived, and, fearing the inhabitants may have been in bed, Mr. Murray broke open the window of Mr. Rockett’s bedroom, which faces the verandah. Upon assuring himself that no one was there, Mr. Murray endeavored to save some of the articles in the room, but beyond a chest of drawers practically everything was lost, as the fire had already obtained a strong hold, and the draught caused by the opeii window helped to fan the flames. Other residents began to arrive, but nothing could be done, and the house, which was an old wooden one, and consisted of some ten rooms, was soon demolished.

Very general sympathy is felt with Mr. and Mrs. Rockett, who have lost all their furniture, clothes and other valuables, ami also for Mr. Fitzgerald, who recently had the misfortune to lose his motor lorry and other property in the fire at the Urenui Hotel stables. Mr. Rockett states that when they left the house there was no fire in the range, and the origin of the outbreak is a mystery. The furniture was insured, but both Mr. and Mrs. Rockett are heavy losers. A large number of war trophies were destroyed, including a number of relics of the South African War. The house was insured for £lOOO. Until it is rebuilt, Mr. Rockett is residing in Urenui, and has to travel to and fro to milk his cows.