HOUSE DESTROYED BY FIRE

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25996, 27 December 1949, Page 6

HOUSE DESTROYED BY FIRE

GLENTANNER STATION HOMESTEAD OUTBREAK STARTED BY LIGHTNING From Our Own Reporter FAIRLIE. December 26. The homestead at Glentanner Station, deep in the Mackenzie Country, between Lake Pukaki and the Hermitage, was completely destroyed by fire about 5 o’clock yesterday morning. The fire occurred during a very heavy thunderstorm. Lightning apparently ran down the telephone wires and a room in the left wing at the front of the house caught fire. » The manager of the station; Mr G. W. K. Stirling, his wife and four-year-old daughter, were fortunate to escape in their nightclothes. When the fire was discovered it had a strong hold and Mr Stirling and his family had time only to get away from the building before the flames roared through the rooms. All their possessions were lost. Mr Stirling called the shepherd, Mr L. Campbell, and they attempted to put the fire out but without success. As the station is isolated it was some time before Mr G. Seymour, of Ferintesh Station, and men from the Public Works camp at Lake Pukaki. arrived. By then the homestead was burnt out.

The homestead, which belonged to the estate of Mr E. R. Guinness and Mr H. A. LeCren. was insured, but many personal effects are irreplaceable. The building was valued at £l5OO. The personal effects of Mr Stirling and his family were also insured, for an unknown amount. The family was given accommodation at the Hermitage on Christmas night. Residents in the district considered the lightning and thunder the worst for many years. The rainfall was not heavy. Glentanner Station is well known to tourists in New Zealand and from overseas, being the last sheep station on the Lake Pukaki-Hermitage road. 14 miles short of the hostel. It was an eieht-roomed wooden and sod building. the original nortion of which was constructed in 1858 to house pioneer settlers. The run covers a large section of high hill country. FIRE DAMAGE AT NEW PLYMOUTH EARLY MORNING OUTBREAK (New Zealand Press Association) NEW PLYMOUTH, December 26. Damage estimated at between £2OOO and £3OOO was caused early on Saturday morning when the rear portion ana part of the dining rooms of a fish shop at Waitara were gutted by fire. The stock of a stationery and fancy goods shop, which was partitioned off from the fish shop, was also destroyed. The fish shop was occupied by Mr T. Sisarich and the stationery shop by Mr R. J. Davis, The building was of concrete and was owned by Mr F'. Zimmerman, of Waitara. The cause of the outbreak is not known, but it is thought to be due to a defect in an electric heater.