FIRE IN ASHBURTON.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7828, 22 June 1909, Page 2

FIRE IN ASHBURTON.

Shortly after 10 o'clock last night a fire broke out in a Seven=roomed dwell-ing-house oil the corner" of Cameron Street, west, and Winter 1. Street, which was owned bf MrS Minn'is aild occupied by Mr W. J. Elliott aiifl family. The curricle arrived at the SCe'he' of the fire a few minutes after the alarm was sounded, quickl.v followed by the steam engine, but owing to the insufficiency of.tritf water supply the latter was not in action until alter, thd house and its contents had been pra"<st?6a% destroyed. In about half-an-houT the" building was completely consumed. Mrs Elliott had just "put the children to bed and was about to ..retire herself when she became conscious of a smell of burning. Upon opening the door leading into the sitting-room she discovered the fire, which was already master of the situation. The children were immediately removed to a place of safety, felt the 1 rescue was not effected without some difficulty. . Very^ little furniture was saved; indeed, the fire had scarcely been discovered before the whole, building was enveloped in flames. . No fire had been lighted last evening in the ro6ttt in which the fire was first discovered, and it is supposed that the double chiriiney, which connects with the sitting-room, and the kitchen in which the family had been seated, was defective. This might account for the fire having started in the' Sitting-room. The house was insured for £150 m the National and the furniture iof £100 in the London, Liverpool and Globe. , . , Some' fears were at first entertained for the adjoining house, occupied by Mr John ElstoH. and it was deemed advisable to remove,the furniture, but the firemen, by pouring a steady stream of water on to that portion of the house licked by the flames, preserved the building from serious injury.