FIRES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 589, 18 August 1909, Page 4

FIRES.

RONA BAY HOUSE DESTROYED.

■ Shortly: after two o'clock yesterday morn* ing, llona Bay Houso was' destroyed by five. The firo was discovered, by Mr. Q. M. Baker, who lives alongside. Tbo neighbours formed themselves into'ft ■bucket brigade,: but veto unable to save the house, and had the wind not been blowing in the opposite .direction, it is doubtful whether their efforts would have . sufficed to save a number of houses along the water-front from being reduced to ashes. As it was, a picket fenoe bad to be hacked down to prevent adjoining buildings. catemno are. It is thought that the firo originated . in the kitchen, and was due to a faulty chimney. . ■.':,,,. i Little in ths shape of furniture was got out of the houso, only a couplo of tables and a wardrobe being saved, while a fino piano was burnt. Miss Dinmant, a guest .at the house, who was staying with somo friends at . the bay, lost all her .belongings. There were two colts in the stables at the back of the house, but they were safely, removed. . ;.-. ■ The only persons in tlio house at the time of the outbreak ■• were Mr.; Brown and. ; lns two nephews.;, The building, winch contained sixteen rooms, and was built by Air.- Bartolo Russo some, six years ago, was insured foi £1500 in the, Norwich Union office, whilst Oio furnituro was covered by a policy for £670 in the Australian Alliance. OUTBREAKS IN THE CITY. There wore two small fires in the. oitj yesterday.. Tho first alarm was given about 6.30 p.m., when a. detached room at No. 7 Bolton. Street had caught, fire. Tho outbreak, which was quickly suppressed, was cansed by a curtain blowing against a lighted candlo. The honso, which was owned by Mr. W. E. Pearson, was occupied by Miss .Martin as a boarding-houso, : and was insured for v £500 in tho Royal Insurance Company, and. for a similar sum in ; the Norwich Union. A policy of £600 in fho London and Lancashire office and another for £100 with tho Now \ Zealand' Insurance Co. covered tho furnituro./ . ' ■ _ . The second call was at 7.1 p.in. to 11 Garrett Strcot, owned by Mr. H. L. Nans, .and occupied by Mr. Benjamin Semolpff. 'Tho .bed and bedding in a front room were damaged by fire. The insurances wore: On the building £200 with the New Zealand Insurance Co.; on the contents £100 in the Con> morcial Union. ' ■

Ono of tbe surest precautions against loss by firo is to always liave a Minimax Hand Fne Extinguishor liaiidy. It is simple and offectivo, and its prompt use line often prevented a crcat conflagration. A; T. Bato, i Nathan's Buildings, AYclliiiffbon, is the agont. -Advt.