FIRE AT HAUTAPU.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2704, 9 November 1889, Page 2

FIRE AT HAUTAPU.

A kike occurred at Mr Hugh Ferguson's farm at Hautapn, between 9.30 p.m. and 10 p.m., on Thursday night, whereby his stable, cowshed, store-room with loft above it, buggy shed and buggy, and shed containing a reaper sind binder, were totally destroyed. Mr Ferguson does a large business in fruit, and in the store-room and loft there were about 400 fruit cases that he had lately made in readiness for the forthcoming fruit harvest. He had been at work making cases that evening, and about the time mentioned wont to take some material to his apiary, leaving a lamp burning on the bench in. the store-room. He was only a short time away, and when he returned the shed was in fiair.es. He immediately took steps to save the house, which is about 00 feet away, as the wind was blowing in that direction, aud it was being covered with a shower of sparks. While ho was doing this the lire made great headway, which rendered it impossible to save anything that was in the buildings. Unfortunately the whole of the farming implements, harness, buggy, reaper aud binder, and tools used in the fruit and honey business were destroyed. It was fortunate that the horses were out in a paddock. Mr Fergussou thinks the lamp must have burst, or that it had been knocked over by cats. He is insured in the Colonial Office for £150, and estimates his loss at double that amount, He is fortunate in having any insurance on the premises, as he ceased to insure when the premiums were raised, but having been frightened by a lad's smoking, that he had about the place, he thought it well to reinsure, and at once took out a policy. Many of the neighbouring settlers quickly came to render assistance, but wore too late to rescue anything.