MIDNIGHT FIRE.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18308, 16 February 1925, Page 8

MIDNIGHT FIRE.

big Mouse b£s f mo?E&.

fAM fL?>S NAfiitOty tSCJA^i.

The family of Mr John Smith, builder, of Ghrißtchurciij had a, narrow escape >Jri Saturday nighti when his hiiie-ropmeii dwelling, at 28:. Domain terrace, Snreydoh; Was bUrnt to"the grbund. Th& damage is estimated at £2500.

Mrs Smith and her eldest sbii, Horace Gibson Smith, 19 years of age, wont to bed at 11 p.th., and everything eeetned all right. Thfei,. sthaJler children had been in bed sihtJb 9.30 p.m., but Mr Smith, was not at home. At aboiit midfljfeht' Mrs Snlfth was awakened by: the crackling df burning timber, itnd when jslie went into the passage she saw thai the ceiling in the kitchen and scullery was ablaze; Slie aroused the children and her ebh, whs was sleeping on the verandah * and all of jtheiri managed to get out in their night attire. , Ml* Smith was Tetiifhiris: home at 12.5 a.m: ; after liaviitg been btit with S&me fHeiids, and he noticed a blaze towards Spreydbil. On nearer apprbacli he whs ststfrgered tb find that it *as his own plaice that whs on fire. The alarm'was jeivett arid the brigade was promptly on the scene, btit it wa& found that the only water had .to be brought from the Heatficots river, that was about half, a ;.mile awa?. When the supply of water waß available, the fire had gained a strong; hold and the . blaze was lighting up the Country for a biq distance around. The firemen could do little; and the house, together with a sheu\ was completely destroyed. A, sewine machine and a few papers and clothes were all that was saved.

The house, which was a one-storey wood and planter dwelling of modern design, was ,-riillied at £2OOO. the furniture at £BOO, ahd the shed at £SO. Tlie insurances were: House £IBSO with the. Alliance ContpahV ahd furniture £6OO with the New Zealand Office.