THE PATUTAHI FIRE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4964, 3 September 1918, Page 2

THE PATUTAHI FIRE.

DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT £I6OO,

FULL DETAILS OF THE CONFLAGRATION.

Full details of the disastrous conflagration at Patutahi on Friday, when damage to the extent- of approximately £I6OO was done, wore available yesterday. As the result of the fire an eight-roomed house and store combined belonging to W. J. R. Bruce, a Motamata fanner, and a four-roomed house belonging to Harry Ritchie, wer e t-otallv' stroyed.

'The fire started at 1.45 a.m., when Patrick Rodgers discovered Mr Bruce’s property on fire. The building was used as a store for a number of years, but for the past nine months has been unoccupied. Rodgers, who was sleeping at the local hotel, had been to Gisborne and had not long returned when, at the time stated, he noticed a reflection from the window of his room. He awoke the inmates of the hotel and then ran over to Mr Ritchie, whose house was situated next to the store belonging to Mr Bruce, and woke him. Rodgers states that the fire appeared to have a strong hold in the back of the store at the time he first saw it. He saw no one about at the time, when there was a drizzling rain falling. Police Constable Maloney was also communicated with. It was suggested that the fire may have easily been caused by spontaneous combustion caused by quantities of oil, kerosene, etc., which had been accidentally spilt on the floor of one of the back rooms of the old store, where the storekeepers for years p st had been in the habit of storing o' ••>. The place was over run with rats. An iron store shed detached, was saved. The damage is estimated at £9OO in respect of the dwelling and store, which was of wood and iron, and was insured in the South British Office for £6OO. The amount of £3OO, therefore, is not covered by insurance. The store was leased by Mr Harry Cooper. The fire died down assisted: in this process by the falling rain, and at 3.30 a.m., those present in the vicinity were satisfied that there was no danger of the fire spreading. In the meantime, however, Mr Ritchie had taken the precaution to remove all liis furniture from the house, but when the fire died down in the _ adjoining room, it was taken back into the house. Whilst out on the road the furniture and bedding had > got wet and Mr Ritchie and a friend named Augustus H. Gillman went to the hotel to sleep. During the fire at the adjoining ’ property Ritchie s house caught fire near the roof at the eaves and was put out with water, -and thinking everything was safe everyone left the scene. It is presumed. however, that sparks must have been smouldering, probably in some of the cracks of the timber, or blown under the house by the slight wind that prevailed. At 5.40 a.m.. however, Charles McGrannachan saw that the fire had obtained a strong hold on Mr Ritchie’s property, which was a four-roomed house of wood and an iron roof. The house was totally destroyed. The value of the house was estimated at £450, and the furniture and effects’ at £250. The former was insured with the Atlas Company for £3OO. and: the furniture and effects in the South British for £l5O. The one was. therefore, under insured by £l5O, and th e last mentioned by £IOO. All that was saved was a suit of clothes, a wristlet watch; two gold rings and a pendant and gold chain belonging to Mr Ritchie.