HOMESTEAD BURNT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 10, 12 January 1934, Page 3

HOMESTEAD BURNT.

BLAZE AT TOKOMARU BAY. CARTRIDGES EXPLODE. flßy Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) TOKOMARU BAY, this day. A beautiful homestead at Tokomaru Bay was completely destroyed by fire early this morning, when the owner, Mrs. George Oates, eavv her home reduced to a smouldering ruin within sixty minutes. Mrs. Oates discovered the fire herself at 2 o'clock, and immediately took her two children to safety. She immediately called her brother-in-law, Mr. Joe Oates, whose home is only 30 yards away, but his attempts to enter the burning building were frustrated by the dense smoke. Volunteer helpers were powerless to form a "Ducket brigade, as the house stood on a hill well back from the sea. The building was a blazing inferno in twenty minutew. All the lawns were burnt, but a plantation of pines, although singed, were fortunately saved. The explosion of a nunibor of .303 cartridges awakened the whole bay. The fire started in the kitdhen pantry. The house and contents were insured in the South British Office for £1000. Mrs. Oates is a heavy loser. OUD HOUSE LOST. EARLY MORNING OUTBREAK. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WHANGAREI, this day. One of the oldest houses in Whangarei, and one which is said to be the first to be constructed over the river, was completely destroyed by fire during the early hours of this morning. The house, which was owned by Mr. E. Ryan, was unoccupied, having been vacant for about a fortnight. During that period it had been renovated, and paperhanging operations were concluded only yesterday. It is not known how the fire started, but when the brigade was called about 3 a.m. the flames had a strong hold, i The instructions the brigade received were that the fire was in Shortland Street, and they arrived there to find that it was in "Portland Road, over the -river. By the time the firemen arrived, flames were bursting through the roof and were lighting up Parahaki, which stands behind. With no water available, the brigade was powerless to do anything, and nothing was saved.