FIRE AT CLAUDELANDS.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 233, 4 October 1886, Page 2

FIRE AT CLAUDELANDS.

Mr F. A. Whitaker s Houso Destroyed,

(BY T__CJ_Cll___._t— OWN CORKESI'ONUI-NT.) Thk residence of Mr F. A. Whitaker'at Claudelands, was burned to the ground yesterday afternoon, about 3 o'clock. The lire is presumed, to have been caused by a spark from the chimney of the kitchen longing in the shingles on the roof of the smoking room, access to which was not obt_.i__.bl_ from th_ bo-inninfj. ftlrs Whitaier and the servant were in the garden with the children when the*,- saw the smoke. The nurse and man servant were out. Fortunately it being a fine day there wero many people about, and plenty of willing hands saved nearly all the contents except those of thesmok-ing-room, where Mr Whitaker's private papers, books, etc..were kept. The flro was slow as it was against the wind, hence the amount of property saved. The house wiiieh was formerly occupied by Mr Claude contained ten or twelve rooms. The insurances are:—House. £350; contents, £350; both in the Colonial oliice. 'I he coach-house and • stable were saved. Additional insurances arc:-£lls on plate (nearly all saved); £35 on piano (saved); £150 on stables and buggy (untouched); all in the Colonial Otlice. The total insurance is ..1,000. and the value of the salvage is estimated at £500.