FIRE AT MANAIA.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume X, Issue 1860, 21 February 1888, Page 2

FIRE AT MANAIA.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

At about half-past five, the small building at the rear of Nichol's store was discovered to be on fire, but by the time help arrived it was too far gone to be saved from total destruction. Mr. McFarlane, tinsmith, occupied the building, and at the time of the occurrence he was out of the building and cannot account for the fire. He says he left his soldering iron near the fireplace when he left the cottage, about an hour before, but he thinks it was perfectly safe. The fire Beams to those who were first on the spot to have started just at the spot indicated by him, as on bursting the back door open near the fireplace, a sheet of flame met those trying to get in. Nothing could be done but look on and reflect as what a fire in one of tho blocks would do with the same strong wind blowing.

I have been unable to find out whether the cottage, which belonged to the trustees in Nichol's estate, and was worth probably about i>2o to i'2s, was insured.