HAWKER’S VAN BURNT

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 10064, 31 July 1925, Page 6

HAWKER’S VAN BURNT

BLAZE NEAR WAERENGA-O-KURI. * MOTOR TRUCK AND £972 WORTH OF GOODS LOST. Some excitement was caused near Waerenga-o-kuri. yesterday afternoon when flames estimated at thirty to forty feet high were seen ascending in a rather deserted spot. A passing motor cyclist, Mr H. Jeffreys, hurried to tho scene and was just in time to see the end of a one-ton motor truck and a big assortment of drapery etc. The goods and the truck were the nroperty of Mr R. S. Herbert, draper, of Nuhaka, and the driver of the truck was Mr A.. Hammond. On leaving Nuhaka the truck had aboard drnpery and mercery, etc., to the retail value of £972, which was to be hawked round' the country. The van was practically new, having been in use only two months. Going down a hill past Waerenga-o-kori, the steering gear, according to Mr Hammnod, refused to act and the.van went over the. hank, falling gradually some 20 feet. Then it overturned and in a few minutes was a mass of flames. As the car left the road Mr Hammond hurriedly jumped off, and then ran down to endeavour to heat out the flames, but the intense heat rendered apnroach impossible.

Towards the end of the conflagration Mr Jeffreys appeared on the scene, hut could do nothing but look on at- the diminishing flames. In the course of a few minutes the van and its entire contents were destroyed. The goods are insured hut detailed particulars are unknown. Jt is not known whether the van was covered by insurance or not.