DUNEDIN NEWS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXIII, Issue 3358, 23 May 1879, Page 2

DUNEDIN NEWS.

Dunedin, May 21. The house of Captain Sinclair, Port Chalmers, had a narrow escape from destruction by fire this morning. The property known a3 Allandale, situated on the Forbury road, Caversham, owned and occupied by Mr Thomas Allan, seedsman, Princes street, was destroyed by fire last evening. Mrs Allan was in her house with her children and servant girl when fire broke out. The first intimation she got was about 5.30 p.m., when a gentleman knocked at the front sitting-room door, where she then was, and called out "Fire;" On going to the back of the house she found that one room, where she had lit a fire for the purpose of airing, was in flames. The house, which was built of brick and stone, consisted of sixteen rooms and hall, and is totally destroyed, with the exception of the kitchen, which formed a wing off the main building, and which was saved by the exertion of the Caversham Brigade, who, under Captain Blayden, arrived on the scene about half-past six, and remained there fully five hours. The insurances on the building were two policies of LSOO and L 250 respectively in the Standard office. The furniture was insured in the South British office for L2OO. A large quantity of furniture, bedding, and clothing was saved. Mr Allan estimated his loss over and above insurances on house and furniture at about L 2300. He had refused to insure the ' building to anything like the full amount, as he looked upon the risk of a fire in a house of its character as extremely small. A portion of the house was built by Mr David Calder about twenty-five years

ago, and a wing was added by Mr Allan four years ago.