THE BURNING OF TARARU LIGHTHOUSE.

Press, Volume XVI, Issue 2158, 18 March 1870, Page 3

THE BURNING OF TARARU LIGHTHOUSE.

[From the ." Southern Cross."]

The fire at Tararu on Thursday evening which was so plainly visible from Grabamstown and Shortland, but respecting which no tidings could be gleaned at either place, proves to have resulted in the destruction of the pyramid lighthouse. It appears the lighthouse keeper was in the act of retiring to rest, when he was disturbed by the noise of a bursting kerosene lamp in the pyramid building abovo head, and the wooden structure was in flames. The family had barely time to remove a few articles of furniture to a place of safety ere the roof above them gave way, in consequence of two cases of kerosene, which were stored over head, taking fire. The pyramid, which was totally destroyed, was for some time in use on the Queen street wharf, Auckland, where the lights were used to guide vessels coming up harbour, before their removal to the Thames lighthouse. The fire burned for about 30 minutes, and was eventually extinguished by the exertions of the lighthouse-keeper, assisted by a number of men, fortunately without extending to any other building, or even destroying the lower portion thereof. Immediately on these factbeing communicated to the Engineer-in-Cbief, he. with great promptitude ordered a red light to be at once fixed on the lower portion of the lighthouse, and a frame to be commenced early this morning. The red light will therefore be in its position, aa usual, this evening. ~ . We learn tbat the name of the lighthouse keeper is Wetton, andthat so narrow was the escape that Mr Wetton's two children had th© hair of their heads singed by the fire.