FIRES

Hokitika Guardian, 24 August 1929, Page 6

FIRES

SUSPICIOUS FIRES,

(By Telegraph-Press Association)

AUCKLAND, August 23,

Twice during ,the week a fire has broken out in g-house at Cainbourne, Edendale and Auckland detectives -ire making inquiries.

Tlfe first fire, started at 9.30 o’clock on Tuesday evening and was ext-in-,oi; j lied bv, the-Mt. Albert brigade and last night another blaze started early.

‘ On both ’occasions the occupi.its were away and r on Tuesday nigiit ; dr i not return at a11,.’ :

BOARDING HOUSE BLAZE

DUNEDIN, August 23

Early this - morning an old wooden two-storeyed huilclingtj of 14 rooms, known as “Hiawatha,”' owned . and occupied by. Peter, .Torrie,, ,-aiuD used as a hoarding house, at gt’ Clair, was destroyed by fire,,,and the adjoining house, owned and .occupied by W. J. McLauchlan, journalist, was also badly damaged, -the /contents being practically a> total- loss, /fhe -occupants, of Hiawatha- ..just managed to, escape in time, but lost their personal ...property.McLauchlan and his family . were absent, from home. A Rover egr, ,-.o,wned by ,g. Bramfoid, garaged; at Hiawatha,.:was also totally destroyed. ..-ibi -: Another / house, - ..occupied by. Mrs Lawson,- : was. slightly, damaged. The brigade was handicapped through, inadequate .water- supply. The., heat, .was terrific / and several firemen had :u t>heir hands blistered. The cause., of the fire is unknown. The insurances;!are; McLaughlan, £250 on furniture j (New;>: Zealand) £IOOO .-on house - ,-(Aiisti'afoin Provincial). Bramford’s , motor-car £IOO (Standard). Torrie’s insurances are not yet available. -