Destructive Fire at Puriri.

Thames Star, Volume XVI, Issue 5030, 25 February 1885, Page 2

Destructive Fire at Puriri.

Mb EHRENERIED'S STABLES, Ac,

BURNT,

Information ;vas received in town shortly after we went to press last evening, that a destructive firo had occurred about noon on Mr L. Ehrenfried's farm at Puriri, his extensive and well built twostorey stables combining outhouses, Sec), being burnt to the ground. A chaff" cutler and other farm implements, harness, tarpaulins, 5 tons oaten hay, 2 do. meadow hay., Spa., were also destroyed, the total estimated loss being between £500 and £600. The cause cf the fire is supposed to have been the spontaneous combustion of the hay, which must hare been stacked before' it' was thoroughly dry. Mrs Goard, the manager's wife, was the only person near the scene of the fire at j the outbreak, the men being away at work on another portion of the farm/ She ran to the stables and managed to get a large new wagon into a place of safety. This was the only thing saved, as there was no water available to quench the flames., The stables are some distance from the manager's dwelling house/ and no fire is used in connection with them. Mr Ehrenfried was on his way to the farm" at the time of the fire,' and could see his.property blazing as he drove along the road. The buildings, <&«., were insured in the Victoria office, but owing to the policy being taken but iv Auckland,' we were unable to ascertain the amount of it. , .