BLAZE AT DAY’S BAY

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 56, 29 November 1929, Page 12

BLAZE AT DAY’S BAY

TWO BUILDINGS DESTROYED boardinghouse and RESIDENCE HUTT BRIGADE TO RESCUE Probably the most serious fire that has ever taken place at Day’s Bay occurred there yesterday afternoon, when two large main road structures were totally demolished with all contents, and a third large house was very badly burnt on one side. The premises affected (all wooden) were Mr. H. Downes’s tea-rooms and boardinghouse (26 rooms), totally destroyed. Miss Hawthorne’s residence (6 rooms), totally destroyed. Mr. A. Knowles’s residence, badly , scorched. The fire broke out at the rear of Mr. Downes’s accommodation house a little before 3 p.m. The kitchen was soon well ablaze, and as there was no means of checking the flames at the time, they, with the aid of a fresh breeze, very quickly spread throughout the whole of the large building, the occupants of which had no time to save anything, and barely time to save themselves. In the course of ten minutes or a quarter of an hour the whole of the building was a seething furnace of flame that leapt thirty feet in the air, and were easily visible from the northern end of the city, and the south and western heights. The volunteer brigade at Eastbourne was summoned as quickly as possible, and was soon on the spot. Under the direction of Captain Drummond, the brigadesmen did what they could with their chemical engine, but the dimensions of the tire had gone past such a feeble resource, and the flames leapt on unchecked. Delayed Telephonic Communication. In tiie meantime someone endeavoured to get into touch by telephone with the Lower Hutt Fire Brigade. This person informed a “Dominion” reporter that, although he explained the urgency of the case, he could not get through to the brigade, as there were others before him, so it was ten minutes before he got into touch with the brigade. There was a quick response. The Hutt brigade’s engine made good time along the main road, and, on reaching the spot, lowered the big hose into the sea, and in- a few minutes had two leads throwing good heads of water into the inferno of flames.

Long before this the flames had shrivelled up a row of stately populars between Downes’s place and Miss Hawthorne’s house, and in a trice that tine modern two-storied villa, erected only three years ago, was a roaring mass of red flames. The house, fully furnished, was unoccupied and locked up. It was totally destroyed, with the whole of its contents.

A Good Save. The efforts of the brigade were now directed towards saving the third house, owned by Mr. A. Knowles (of the Public Trust Office), and occupied by Mr. C. L. Bishop, town clerk of Eastbourne. One lead was taken through the house and was operated from a side window direct on to the flames that were reaching out from Miss Hawthorne’s house. The other lead was operated from the front garden on to the space (only a few feet) between the two houses. As the flames licked hungrily at the sides of Mr. Knowles’s house, it seemed inevitable that it, too, would go, but the Hutt and Eastbourne brigadesmen stuck to their job in good style, and gradually subdued the fire, until after an hour’s fight it was confined to Miss Hawthorne’s house. Probably oiie side of Mr. Knowles’s house will have to be renewed. Whilst the fight was on, willing hands were at work removing the furniture from the threatened house, and stacking it in a row along the main road. Within the house a certain amount-of damage was done by smoke, water, and the exigencies of the situation. Discovery of Outbreak. Interviewed by a “Dominion” reporter, Mr. 11. Downes (formerly manager at Day’s Bay for the J. H. Williams estate), who built the accommodation house and tea-rooms seventeen years ago, stated that lie had been talking with the constable of the district at the front door of his shop, and after the officer’s departure, he had moved down to the beach intending to pick up a bit of driftwood, when he looked round and saw a column of smoke belching up from the back premises. He rushed in. to find the whole of the kitchen ablaze and the house rapidly filling with dense smoke. He gave the alarm, and was about to start saving something, when the flames came at him, and he had to be half-pulled from the burning building. The back of his head was scorched. The only things saved were a few chairs and tables from the tea-rooms. Mr. Downes said that he fancied that the fire must have originated from some defect in the kitchen range, otherwise he could not imagine how it obtained such a hold in a few minutes. The building and contents were insured in the Atlas office, for what precise amount he could not say at the time.

Mr. Downes said that the fire was most unfortunate for him, occurring as it did at the beginning of the summer season. On account of his health, he had entered into an agreement to lease the place for a term of seven years to Mr. L. Freeman, who was to take possession at midnight on Saturday next. It was his intention to take a holiday, but what would happen now he could not say. He had occupied the premises for about twelve years past. Miss Hawthorne (formerly of C. Smith’s staff and now in business in Willis Street) built her house some three years ago. It was one of the most picturesque wooden dwellings in the Bay. She lost everything. It is understood that both house and contents were insured, but particulars were not available yesterday. The situation of the lire was about a hundred yards south of the Moana Road intersection, on the Main Road. The scene was visited by many hundreds of people from the bays and the city last evening.