FIRES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 165, 6 April 1908, Page 8

FIRES.

A WATCHMAN'S NARROW ESCAPE. (BT TELEGrtArH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) ■ / I , Dunedin, Anril 4 William Symons, the' : . night watchman, omploycd by the Drainage Board on chei; construction works at tho Glen,/Mornington who was -so severely burned .'on Thursday night, came by his injuries in a peculiar manner. ' Shortly after midnight ho piloted tho mail van down the road, as was his usual practice.. After. doing this ho. returned to ashed containing a quantity of tarred, oakum and kerosene. This must havo been somehow sot alight with his lantern. Apparently he lost his head,' for ho was unablo to. get out of tho shed. His cries attracted tho neighbours, but for wheso assistance he would probably have been burned alive. ■ . COTTAGE DESTROYED. ' ' '• (BY TELrcitAWI.— I'EESS ASSOCIATION.) 1 . " . Ashburton, Anril 4. A four-roomed cottage at Chertsey, owned and occupied by Mr. James Connor, was with the contents, totally destroyed by fire yesterday afternoon. Tho house and furniture ,wore jointly insured for £100, but in what oflico is unknown. Tho loss will bo £100 over and above that amount. HOUSE BURNED AT THE HU'IT. fire bell at tho Hutt rang out at 2.30 o clock on Sunday..-morning, and speedily aroused the neighbourhood. The motorman (Air. G. Bradley) promptly took charge of the engine and rushed it to the scene of tho fire. This was in tho Middlo Waiwotu Road, tho house being occupied by Mr. R>. E. Palamountain. Jt was a five-roomed house with outbuildings, including a machinery shed, all of which were destroyed. The firoliad a complete hold of the building when tho alarm was given.. Tho Brigade was on tho spot within ten minutes of the call, but there was little to bo done, as it was plain that : all efforts to save tho building would be futile. Mr. Palamountain had a policy of £103 on the furniture and effects, and £165 on the machinery, all of which was destroyed