FIRE IN HARRIS STREET.

Gisborne Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6318, 22 February 1922, Page 5

FIRE IN HARRIS STREET.

FIFTEEN-BOOM RESIDENCE badly damaged.

A fifteen-roomed house situated at 32 Harris street* Haiti, was badly damaged by fire shortly after one o’clock yesterday afternoon. The house was owned by Mr. Tims. Holy wood, of Auckland, and occupied by Mrs. J. Steele, by whom it has been conducted as a boardinghouse for very many years. The fire, -which"apparently' started in/ one of the bedrooms, was first discovered by Mr. W. Wilmott, a boarder, who noticed smoke issuing from the window, and upon opening the door found the room to be in flames. Although several people were in an adjoining room the fire had not previously been detected. There was apparently some delay in giving the alarm, a carpenter engaged on the other side communicating with the Brigade, but not before tba flames bad obtained a substantial hold and were issuing from the roof. The dense smoke was seen from Gladstone road long before the fire bell rang, but once the alarm had been given the Brigade was promptly on the scene, and soon had the fire under control although by this time it was obvious that the building would be badly gutted. A considerable quantity of the contents of the house were saved, some of the boarders being fortunate enough to secure their personal belongings. Mrs. Steele, was in bed at the time, and had to be assisted* from the house. The furniture was insured in the New Zealand office for £3OO, but the insurance on the house was not available yesterday.