FIRE IN PARNELL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 94, 20 April 1904, Page 6

FIRE IN PARNELL.

ST. STEPHEN'S MAORI SCHOOL * BURNT. A Sre broke out this morniiif abont four o'clock in the school buDdm» offifc Stephen's Maori School for in Parnell, and was discovered too late tn prevent the premises from being gutter Fortunately, the air was calm or tht other buildings might have caught aliaht from the sparks which shot «»t ofth» building. ' *,'--■ -■ ™ The fire was discovered by the «ook of the institution, who rose at about' half-past four. Looking pat of his window he saw the flames pouring out of the roof of the building. TheTchool was roused in a few moments, and the boys turned the hose on the flames. The Parnell Fire Brigade was attracted tothe spot by the prolonged ringing 0 f the bell, and after a delay of a few minutes' while the Khyber Pass Reservoir was being instructed to turn on more" water, got the flames under in abbot' half an hour. The building is not wholly destroyed, but is roof has been quite-burnt out, also the major portion of the main room, i tt means that the whole building will to be re-erected, and at the present cost of timber this will cost about £400. Theinsurances a?e £200 on the building is the South British Office, and S'3s on jfhe contents in the New Zealand Office. The house was valued for commercial purposes at £-300 and the contents cannot be replaced for less than £100. St.. Stephen's School i 3 a Church institution, maintained out of* a special endbwment which is sufficient to keep it going. Canon MacMurfay, interviewed on the matter this morning, said that he does not think the trustees will need to make any appeal to the public for funds to Teplace tbe building, but it may mean that the number of boys dealt with maybe rednced somewhat for a few years till the difference between the insurance and the cost of rebuilding is made up.