'Shropshire Farm' Burned To Ground

Northern Advocate, 8 March 1947, Page 7

'Shropshire Farm' Burned To Ground

DISASTROUS KERIKERI FIRE

(Special)

KERIKERI, This Day

SHROPSHIRE Farm guest house, Kerikeri, with accommodation for over 15 people, was totally destroyed by fire early this morning. Owned by Mrs F. W. Voelcker, of Paihia, wife of Colonel F. W. Voelcker, Administrator of Western Samoa, it was leased by Mr and Mrs J. V. Tyree, who recently spent a considerable sum in renovating the house, which comprised six bedrooms, two spacious lounges and a modernly equipped kitchen and laundry. Detached was a four-roomed villa occupied by the manager and his wife. This also was a complete loss.

Early in the evening a shower hart occurred and a guest, awakening in the early morning, heard what he thought was more rain drumming on the roof.

was unable to ring neighbours L'or assistance.

Shortly afterwards, at 2.30 a.m., all the inmates were roused by smoke. Mr Tyree immediately rushed into the main building and rang Kerikeri exchange, which, however, was closed. The telephone connection to Shropshire Farm being a private line, ho

Mr Primsell, a guest, and Mr N. Brady, a near neighbour, made hurried trips by car to obtain aid. Other people nearby were awakened by a loud explosion as the fire reached its zenith.

The barking of a watchdog disturbed by the glare conveyed the alarm to Mr Boyd and his daughter, who rushed to the scene with a water pump.