WATER SUPPLY LACKING.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 221, 19 September 1927, Page 9

WATER SUPPLY LACKING.

TWO HOUSES BURNED DOWN. FIRES AT HOWICK AND GLEN EDEN. A farmhouse at Millen's Hill, Howick, owned by Mr. Robert Milieu, of Bloom - field Avenue, Epsom, was totally destroyed by fire on Saturday. In the early hours, Mrs. John Millen, daughter-in-law of the owner, was awakened by the smell of burning. She found the sitting room ablaze. Her husband aroused two farm hands who were sleeping at the rear of the building and the occupants of the house made a hurried exit.' As there were no means of fighting the flames the house was burnt to the ground. It was covered by insurance. The absence of an adequate water supply also led to the destruction of a dwelling at Glen Eden on Saturday night. A house owned by Mr. J. R. Johnson and tenanted by Mr. J. Thompson, was Bet alight by the dropping of a kerosene lamp, which Mr. Thompson was carrying. Fanned by a strong breeze, the flames spread rapidly through the house. The building is in an isolated position, and as there is no water main within reach the Avondale brigade, which was promptly on the scene, could do nothing to check the blaze. A few personal effects were saved. The building was insured for £400 in the Alliance Office. There were several minor outbreaks in the city during the week-end, the brigade turning out. to premises at sa, Londqn Street (fire in washhouse); 14, St. Mary's Road, Ponsonby (mattress ablaze); 162, Symonds Street (chimney on fire), and the corner of Shortland and O'Connelf Streets (fused electric cable).