HOUSE TOTALLY DESTROYED.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 26, 31 January 1925, Page 6

HOUSE TOTALLY DESTROYED.

PONSONBY AFTERNOON FIRE. VALUABLE HEIRLOOMS BUTCXED. Xotliing but a mass of charred ruin? remains on the site occupied yesterday hy a nine-roomed house at 4. Sentin. , ! Road. Ponsonby, owned by Mrs. A. •'., Oiffiths and occupied by Mr?. R. Kcitli. , A lire that broke out in the afternoon completely putted the building an<l destroyed a number of heirlooms vrb'u li had been family treasures for many generations, extending , over almost Siifl years. One of the oldest of these was * clock, which possessed great sentimental value. Though the fire broke out in broa<l daylight it was not noticed until it uadj secured a thorough hold of- the building , ) and by the time the fire engines arrived) shortly after 3 o'clock the structure was a burning mass from end to end and top to bottom. The flames were already beginning to break through the root, rendering any attempt to save the con« tents out of the question. A prompt response was received fron< the Western District Brigade, which was at the scene of the fire, one and a half miles away, exactly three minutes fron* the time the call went through the tire alarm box. The City Brigade arri\e<J soon afterwards. The insurances totalled £1000 in tha London Liverpool, and Globe Insurance) Co., including £t!SO ou the building an<| £;i.>o on the contents. It was impossible to ascertain the location or cause «l the outbreak, as the fire obliterated all traces.