FIRE DESTROYS HOMESTEAD

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22250, 15 November 1937, Page 8

FIRE DESTROYS HOMESTEAD

Disastrous Outbreak At Longbeach

OWNER'S SEVERE

LOSS

Only the Walls Left

Standing

The Longbeach homestead, where Royalty and Vice-Royalty have stayed as the guests of the Grigg family, was completely destroyed by fire yesterday afternoon. Situated about lb miles from Ashburton, the building comprised 33 rooms and was an imposing two-storeyed structure of brick, with stone facings, built in the style of many of the old English homes.

The history of the homestead was closely connected with the early development of the estate by Mr John Grigg, grandfather of the present occupier, Mr J. H. Grigg. The bricks used in its construction about 50 years ago were made on the property - • , ■, .• u Mr J. H. Gngg's loss, which amounts to many thousands of pounds, included much valuable an-' tique furniture more than 100 years old, show trophies won by Longbeach stud stock, and personal effects, which included Mrs Grigg's valuable collection of jewellery.

There was nobody in the building at the time of the outbreak, which was discovered about 3 p.m. by one of the station hands, who sounded the fire alarm on the property. Many of the employees rushed to the building, finding that the fire had a good hold in the top storey. They assisted Mr Grigg in the removal of most of the contents of the drawing room, including sporting trophies, a grand piano, and a number of paintings. Some of the articles in the smoking room were also saved.

Fire Brigade Summoned

The Allenton Fire Brigade was advised of the outbreak by Sergeant J. F. Cleary (Ashburton) and 45 minutes later four members of the brigade, under Fireman M. White, were playing two leads of hose from the lake in front of the house on to the flames, which were fanned by a strong wind and which had spread over almost the whole building before the brigade arrived. For more than three hours the firemen and station hands fought hard to subdue the fire; but their task was hopeless from the outset. The building was reduced to a smouldering ruin, only the walls remaining. The homestead and its contents were insured with the Alliance Assurance .Company. The origin of the fire is unknown. Mr and Mrs Grigg were on their way to the beach at the time of the outbreak, and returned when they noticed smoke issuing from the homestead. The most distinguished guest at Longbeach was the Duke of Gloucester, who stayed there at the beginning of 1935 during his tour of the Dominion. Governors-General of New Zealand have aflso been the guests of the- Grigg family. Another distinguished visitor to Longbeach about two years ago was the Duke of Northumberland.

Naming of the Property

It was James Edward FitzGerald, first Superintendent of Canterbury and founder of "The Press," who gave the name to the property, which was taken up by Mr John Grigg in 1864. An interesting feature of the history of the estate was that the" Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey, Prime Minister of New Zealand, worked on Longbeach in his youth. The Longbeach Dutch' Friesians, the first of their kind to be introduced to this country, are famed throughout New Zealand. They were obtained in Hollahd by Mr J. C. N. Grigg and were landed at Lyttelton in 1884. The station, whicn has earned the name of the "model farm of the world," was famed for the extensiveness of its grain-grow-ing industry before the subdivision. Stud sheep and racing stock are also kept on the property.