KUMARA FIRES

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 February 1947, Page 6

KUMARA FIRES

DESTROY TWO BUILDINGS OUTBREAKS EARLY THIS MORNING INCENDIARISM SUSPECTED Suspicions held in the Kumara district that incendiarists were responsible for the blaze that destroyed the old Kumara Hospital buildings about a month ago, apparently received some confirmation to-day when two unoccupied buildings in the township were gutted in early morning outbreaks. Police investigations have commenced, officers from Greymouth having been assigned to carry out inquiries. ■ The main blaze, which was discovered at about 5 o’clock, destroyed an unoccupied house, formerly the residence of Mr. and Mrs. G. Davidson, early Kumara who owned a foundry and a large store in the township. Opposite Seddon Home.

The building, which contained about seven rooms, was one of the best houses in Kumara’s hey-day and was situated opposite the old homestead of Mr. R. J. Seddon. Up to about nine years ago, the house was occupied by Mr. L. Dewe, but since 1938 had been empty and had fallen into disrepair. The second fire this morning broke out about the same time, and destroyed an old shop known as Murphy’s butchery. This Dillmanstown shop had been empty for almost 20 years and was about to be pulled down. It is situated about a quarter of a mile from the nearest dwelling. The Kumara Fire Brigade attempted to save the Davidson building, but the fire had a good hold on the old timber and nothing could be done. Fires in Recent Years. There have been several fires in Kumara during the past three years. The first was the most serious; destroying the Kumara Memorial Hall. Later the deserted Globe Hotel, Dillmanstown, which was situated adjacent to the shop burnt this morning, was totally destroyed. A few months ago a motor-truck loaded with hay burst into flames on .the Dillmanstown road when the owner was absent, and prior to to-day’s occurrence, a well-known Kumara landmark, the extensive but disused hospital block, was burned to the ground by a fire which broke out at 2 o’clock in the morning. In not one of the six recent fires was the cause of the outbreak discovered. A resident of Kumara said this morning that the residents were becoming concerned. *