BURNING OF ELMSWOOD HOUSE, NEAR CHRISTCHURCH.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXIV, Issue 9662, 2 November 1882, Page 2

BURNING OF ELMSWOOD HOUSE, NEAR CHRISTCHURCH.

(per united press association.) Chbistchubch, Not. 1. Elmswood House, the residence of Mr R. H. .Rhodes, on the Papanui Road, about a mile north of Christchurch, was burned down this afternoon. About 1.30 p.m. the gardoner noticed that the roof of the north-east wing was on fire close to the drawing-room chimney. A mounted man was despatched to the Fire Brigade station, and the extinguisher steam fire engine was despatched. It reached the scene oE the fire about 2 p.m. Water was obtained from a pond m front of the house, and two jets played on the burning building. Meantime a number of willing hands set to work to remove furniture, all the most valuable portion of which in the lower rooms was quickly carried to a safe distance. Most strenuous efforts were made to save the house, which is a large wooden structure of about thirty rooms, with slated roof, but the easterly breeze blowing fanned the flames, and, to make matters wore, the steam engine had to cease working for half an hour owing to its being choked with mud. Another one was then sent for, but the delay made it apparent that the whole house was doomed. The firemen, aided by other volunteers, did not relax their efforts to save property, and at great danger to themselves. Amid the crash and fall of debris and slates shooting in small avalanches from the roof, they entered the burning building, and carried out all the property they could lay hands on. A fine organ in the drawing-room could not be removed. At 3 p.m the whole of the upper story had been consumed, and the lower story was nearly all gutted, and all that remains now is a small portion of the lower walls, and the verandah, etc. As regards the origin of the fire, this is supposed to have arisen from a defect in the chimney which served for the drawing-room in the lower story, and Mrs Rhode's bedroom above. It was close to this chimney that the fire was first observed in the roof, and there had been a fire used in the drawing-room. The insurances are said to amount to £7000, the Union and Royal (being keavv losers. . ix/