CHILDREN RESCUED

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 March 1928, Page 7

CHILDREN RESCUED

AT AUCKLAND FIRE.

’ (Special to "Star.”)

AUCKLAND, March 24. A thrilling rescue, amid smoke and in the face of intense heat, was effected on Thursday evening of three children, when at 10.58 o’clock, an old wooden house of four rooms in -Seabrook Avenue, New Lynn, was extensively damaged by fire. The children were the sons of Mr W. Haynes, who was assisted in the rescue work by his brother, Mr R. Haynes. All the occupants made a hurried exit in their night attire, and the occupier of the building, Mr W. Haynes, had his hair badly scorched .in getting the children out, and in attempting to save some of the furniture and effects.

The children, whose ages range from 4< years to 9 years, would have been left in the house on their own had not the Haynes brothers decided at the last moment not to attend a. Labour meeting in. the suburb, for Airs Haynes and the daughter of Air R. Haynes were attending a theatre in the city. MALICIOUS FIRE. WELLINGTON, March 23. Further evidence was heard in the Magistrate’s Court to-day in the Fire Board’s Inquiry into the circumstances surrounding an outbreak of fire which occurred in rooms occupied by Alfred William Phipps, tailor. 80 Willis Street, on the night of January 4 last.

At the conclusion of the evidence, the Magistrate (Mr E. Page) said he thought the logical inference was that the fire had been caused purposely, not accidentally. “I think,” added Mr Page, “that it was caused by some person, but the evidence does not disclose who it was.”