Fire at Queenstown.

Lake County Press, Issue 695, 13 February 1896, Page 7

Fire at Queenstown.

On Friday afternoon at 3 o’clock an alarm of fire was given, and on going to. the scone it was found that the dwelling house of Mr A. Mcßride was in flames, and although the Fire Brigade was quickly on the spot, the inside of the house and most of the furniture was totally destroyed. The building was insured in the National office foi £2OO, but the furniture was uninsured. Sympathy is felt forJMr M'Bride, whose wife is in the Franktou Hospital, and he was away at Kingston with the Mountaineer at the the time of the fire. The cause of the outbreak was, we believe, that their little boy, some three or four years old, got into the the front bedroom and lit a candle, which set fire to some of the drapery about the dressing table.

Our attention has been drawn to the fact that a quantity of hose got for the use of the Fire Brigade was not in its proper place when the fire occurred. Captain Donne states that he had barely sufficient for the purpose, and if the house had been a few feet farther away from the fire plug there would not have been water available to extinguish the fire. This state of things should not be. If the Borough Council requires hose for flushing culverts, drains, etc,, they ought to supply themselves with it and leave that of the Fire Brigade in its proper placs.