FIRES FIRE AT RICHMOND

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 92, 4 May 1903, Page 2

FIRES FIRE AT RICHMOND

At 8 'o'clock last evening a seven- or eightsroomed fcwo-atoried house in Cam-. bridge**streefc, Richmond, and its contents (fornitare) were partially destroyed by fire. The house was owned by Mr Gapper, who lives some distance away and it waa vacant at the time of the fire. It wa. occupied some time ago by Mr (topper's brother, who, with hi» family, are at present , absent from the district. The Brigade were quickly on the spot. The fire aeemed to hare a good bold inside, but It was soon mastered. Consderable difficulty was experienced In totally extinguishing the flames, which; were burning under th. galvanised iron oh the roof, and the ridge had to be removed. The building and most of thefii'hitare were practically dee-roved, but not totally burnt. '.The origin of the fire is a mystery. One account says that two early arrivals heard a rustling, an of a pereon x_oribg about, but the raindrop* from a tree put out a match and tne sounds ceased: Another account says that the fire seems to have started between the walls, and that probably it was caused by rats. The insurances, so far, are unknown.