GUTTED BY FIRE.

Northern Advocate, 22 August 1924, Page 4

GUTTED BY FIRE.

WHANGAREI KESIDENCE. Early this afternoon the Whangarei Fire Brigade was summoned to Mair Street, where a three-roomed bungalow: owned and occupied by Mr H. GK Smith, an employee of the Whangarei Borough Council, had been discover-i ed to be on fire. The signs of fire* were first seen by Mr Athol Steadman, who rushed to the place with a / hose, but found that it would not fit the only available tap. Had the hose been usable, the fire would probably have been extinguished without much trouble, but as it was the flames spread rapidly and had a strong hold when the brigade arrived. It was not long before the firemen had the fire in check, though their efforts could only prevent complete destruction, the building being gutted and most of the contents destroyed.

In one respect, however, fortune favoured the efforts of the brigade, every member of which attended under Superintendent Chissell. Foreman W. James was able to rescue from one room an envelope containing banknotes, a watch and other articles of A jewellery, thus saving Mr Smith a * serious loss. As it is, however, he is a loser, for he had a policy for £175 on the building with the Eagle, Star and British Dominions Insurance Company, and the furniture was not covered.

Mr Smith, who is a single man, states that the house was apparently all secure when lie left home for work this morning, and he did not visit it sit midday. He is therefore quite unable to account for the outbreak of fire.