Destructive Fire at Awanui

Northland Age, Volume 1, Issue 4, 30 October 1931, Page 5

Destructive Fire at Awanui

The house on Awanui road owned and occupied by Mr. Mati Pivac was totally destroyed by fire on Sunday night. About eleven o’clock Mrs. Pivac was awakened by the sound of her baby coughing and found the rear part of the house in flames. She had her face and hair burnt, but managed to waken her husband and escape with their family. When they got outside they found one of the children missing. Re-entering the house, Mr. Pivac found the little boy crouching under a mattress to escape the smoke and brought him out safely. With the help of Mr. A. Wilkinson, who had arrived on the scene, some of the household, goods were salvaged, and the fire prevented from spreading to the outhouse and tankstand. The house itself, a large five-roomed verandah dwelling, built of heart of kauri, and insured in the N.Z. Insurance Co. for £SOO, was totally destroyed. The furniture and effects were insured for £SO, but in addition to the loss of furniture and clothing, £lO in notes was destroyed, as well as jewellery and other valuables, Mr. Pivac estimating his loss in that respect at over £250.

In our advertising columns, Mr. and Mrs. Pivac express their grateful thanks for the friendly help extended them.