FIRES.

Grey River Argus, 30 April 1929, Page 5

FIRES.

RESIDENCE BURNT. Old Greymouth Landmark. Fernhill, ” a ten-roomed residence in Alexander Street, was gutted by fire early yesterday morning, only the chimney stacks—foYrr in number—remaining intact. The house was owned by Mr M. Molan, and occupied by Mr J. Boss and family. The outbreak was discovered about 4.15 am. The alarm was given immediately. but the premises being rather inaccessible, some difficulty was experienced in getting the lead s of hose into position. The Brigade arrived smartly on the scene, but the fire had already obtained a strong hold, and fanned by the wind, the flames soon enveloped the entire structure. The Brigade made the best use of the Dennis engine, but the old and dry nature of the timber made any ehance of effecting a save very remote. The building blazed fiercely and from its elevated position and a very spectacular appearance. The reflection from the fire could be seen for many miles, and the general impression gained by residents in outlying area g was that several buildings were involved. Despite the rain, which was falling somewhat heavily at the time, a fairly large crowd of residents gathered in the vicinity of the burning building and watched the fiery spectacle for some considerable time. The house was fairly isolated, the only building In close proximity being a new unfinished dwelling situated on an excavated section a few chains away, on a level with the road. The occupants had very little time in which to vacate the premises, and were unable to save any furniture, and only a few personal effects. The cause of the outbreak is unknown, but it is presumed that the fire started in the ceiling of one of the rooms in the rear portion of the house.

‘‘Fernhill” was a handsome, wellbuilt residence, and its elevated position made it quite a landmark in the town. It was mainly constructed of kauri and Baltic pine, and while not long since renovated, was erected between forty and fifty year s ago, being formerly owned by the Thomas family (associated with the firm of Thomas and Mcßeath). The building was insured for £BOO in the State Eire Office. The property was to have been disposed of by auction last evening, but owing to the fire, the fale has been indefinitely postponed. It is understood that the furniture and household effects were nof covered bv insurance, and the tenants have suffered a considerable loss as the result of the outbreak, as well as the owner of the house.

CHEESE FACTORY. DESTROYED IN WAIKATO. HAMILTON, April .29. A loss of about £5OOO was suffered by a fire which destroyed the Housham Downs Cheese Factory, between Haniilton ana Ngaruawahia, this afternoon. The fire original! 'd in the boiler room while the staff were engaged in cheese-making. A small hose and a bucket brigade failed t, check the flames. The Hamilton fire engine arrived but it cov’d only save the outbuildings. The insurances on the building plant and oioe.k by the Commercial Union Office totalled £4BOO. Th‘,3 lops is estimated to be greater than this. The factory was the only one owned by the Horsham Downs Cooperative Dairy Company.

Remarkable Escapes. BLAZING BOARDING HOUSE. BABY AWAKENS DOZEN SLEEPERS. AUCKLAND, April 29Awakened by the crying of a nine weeks’ old baby, twelve persons experienced a remarkable escape from a blazing boarding house, in Wellesley Street West, at four o’clock on Sunday morning. The house, a two-storeyed building of seven rooms, was occupied by Mr and Mrs W. Agnew and three young children, Mr and Mrs J. P. Walsh, their baby, and four men boarders. All slept upstairs except Mr Agnew. Walsh was awakened by a child '■creaming, and found the upstairs passageways full of smoke, and the roar of flames could be heard distinctly. Although almost overcome by smoke, Walsh roused his wife and gave the alarm to the others, who were all sleeping soundly. The lower part of the house wag now burning fiercely, flames undermining the stairway. Mrs Agnew struggled downstairs with her children, and, helped by her husband, reached safety without injury. Two men boarders climbed through an ups’airs window to an alleyway separating the burning house from the next building. One man jumped IS feet to the ground. The other jumped across the alleyway to the roof of the opposite house, reaching the ground safely. Two other men climbed through a bedroom window to the roof of the front verandah, and jumped on to the grass 15 feet below. Agnew, unable to find the man who had jumped to the next door roof, attempted to re-enter the house to search. He was driven back by the flames.

When the brigade arrived all the occupants were gathered on the roadway in night attire, nothing being saved but Agnew’s pur.se and child’s perambulator. All were given shelter by, a neighbour. There was bo hope of saving the

house. The brigade prevented damage to the next house, except charred woodwork. The contents were insured for £2OO. STORE DESTROYED. CHRISTCHURCH, April 29. Piro at Upper Riccarton early this morning destroyed R. Brakes’ grocery store, a well-known landmark, anl damaged the post office adjoining. The tenants of the store, S. Woods and his wife and family, had a narrow escape from living rooms above, owing to smoke and flames blocking the stairway.

Motor Coach Afire. FIVE LIVES LOST. FOURTEEN BADLY INJURED. LONDON, April 28. Four were burned to death, one died later, and fourteen were seriously injured when a motor coach travelling to Reading from London, caught fire and overturned near Maidenhead at one o’clock at night. The bodies were so charred, it is impossible to determine whether they <are of men. or women. The condition of most of the injured is believed to be critical. A loud explosion heralded the disaster. Flames mounting 20 feet, and visible for two miles, burst from the forepart of the coach, while travelling at a fair speed, and spread with astonishing rapidity. The trapped passengers broke a window and tore the hood. The terrific heat drove back motorists attempting to assist them to escape. Scarcely any emerged uninjured. The fifth victim, a woman, succumbed to her injuries later.

Survivors pay a tribute to the 'heroism of the driver. Despite injuries, he dragged out several before rushing to the telephone for an ambulance. The stories of self-sacrifice include that of ,a woman, lying on the roadside, with her clothes burned off, saying; “Don’t mind me. There are others worse.”