FIRE AT CAMBRIDGE WEST.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2445, 13 March 1888, Page 2

FIRE AT CAMBRIDGE WEST.

A FOUR-ROOM El) house, belonging to Mr Charlßß O'Neill, of Cambridgo West, was totally destroyed by fire about 1.30 a.m. on Saturday morning. The house was situated a little distance from the nmiii mad, and about 200 yards from the bridge ovnr the Waikato River. The first person to notice the conflagration was tho watchman, Mr ■Stewart, of Cambridge East, and ho having called Sir Russell, who happened to be in his office, they both went to the scene of the fire. When they arrived they were astonished to find that, although the flumes lit up the whole neighbourhood, and there wore several houses close to the spot, they were the only living creatures present, not even a eat or dog being visible. They went to Mr O'Neill's house—which is close to— and knocked loudly at the door. This set a dog burking and eventually woke tho proprietor, who when he opened the door was thunderstruck to see his other house in flumes. The only way in which he could account for the fire, was, that his wife had been baking in tho empty house on the previous afternoon and that a spark must have got on the shinzles or some of the other wood-work, which had smouldered a considerable time before bursting into flames. He stated that the house was not insured, the policy having lapsed in November. Formerly he had had both houses—the one he at present resides in and *he one that is dostroyed insured in the Norwich Union, but that he told Mr Bond the acent, to let which ever ran out first lapse, and that unfortunately happened to be the one. Later. We learn the house that was burned is insured for £100 and not the one that Mr O'Neill lives in, as stated by him.