Fire at Karaka Hill.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2596, 3 May 1877, Page 2

Fire at Karaka Hill.

Shortly after twelve o'clock last night the triangle fire alarm tinkled out its warning notes, and the fire bells quickly followed suit, indicating that there was a fire somewhere. It did not require much searching to discover where the fire was, as the locality was an elevated one, namely the hill overlooking the Karaka Creek. The firemen could see at once that there would be no possibility of reaching the fire with the engines, so they did not attempt it. A hose reel was taken from the Shortland shed, but long before it could be got near the fire the house, which was a detached cottage, was- past saving. The firemen did what they could to.arrest the flames. The fire broke out in, and was confined to a cottage owned by Mr Thomas Leach, a miner, and is believed to have been caused by the fire not being effectually extinguished in a faulty fire place. The man and. his family retired to rest early, believing the fire was safe, and were awoke by the fire at twelve; o'clock. Some articles of furniture %nd clothing were saved, but as LeßcJv is a poor man with a wife "and four children, the logs js a seripug one to, him,

and to enable him to procure another cottage a number of his neighbors have bestirred themselves. Mr Deeble, ■of llolleston street", lias called a meeting to take steps lo raise funds for the purpose of building or buying a house for the homeless family, which meeting is to take place at Mr Peebles store tomorrow raorniag at 9 o'clock.