FIRES

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16212, 15 May 1918, Page 7

FIRES

OLD AGE PENSIONERS INJURED

At 5.2G yesterday afternoon, a firo occurred in a / five-rdomed brick cottage, 20 Westwood terrace, off Salisbury street, occupied by four old age pensioners named Robert Kingan (aged t44), James Renshaw (78), Frank Smith (65), and Emmanuel Gustafson (74). The outbreak was duo to the upsetting of a kerosene stove, on which the evening meal was being cooked, and in a few moments tho building, an old one, was a mass of flames. Kingan was rather severely singed about tho face in making his escape, but Renshaw was more unfortunate, liis retreat being cut off, and only the timely arrival of the Firo Brigade averted a tragedy. Being made acquainted with tlte old man's plight, members of the Brigade effected an entrance through a window and carried him out. Ho was found to be slightly burned about the face and hands and suffering from shock, and was sent to the hospital for treatment. The building, which is owned by Messrs Kirkpatrick and Percy, coal merchants, Victoria street, was insured in the Liverpool and Globe office, but the occupants had no insurance on their effects.

(press association telegram.)

GISBORNE, May 14. The Waiapu Farmers' Co-operative Company's store and offices at Kahukura were destroyed by fire, also a saddler's shop occupied by Mr T. Poi. The insurances total over £6000, and the loss is considerably above that amount.