DESTRUCTION OF MR. J. HANCOCK'S HOUSE, EPSOxM. .

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6062, 22 April 1881, Page 6

DESTRUCTION OF MR. J. HANCOCK'S HOUSE, EPSOxM. .

Fires, like other misfortunes, rarely come singly. About an hour before the outbreak of the Queen-street fire yesterday morning, another took place near the Junction Hotel, Epsom, which ended in the destruction of the residence of Mr. John Hancock. So far as we cau learn, the following are the circumstances of the affair: —Mr. Hancock at the time was away at the Waiwera, on a trip for his health, and the only persons in the house were Mrs. Hancock, and her infant, nine months old, Mrs. Hadley (Mrs. Hancock's mother), her son, Percy, a lad of ton years .of age, and the servant tirl, named Rebecca Russell. About 2 o'clock a.m., Mrs. Hancock having to attend to the baby, got out of bed, and in the act of doing so her foot caught in the fold of the mosquito curtains, causing her to fall forward and upset a night lamp, which -was burning ou a small table adjacent. The kerosene caught fire, and in a moment the curtains were in a blaze. Mrs. Hadley, ■who was sleeping with Mrs. Hancock rushed out of the room, followed by Mrs. Hancock with the baby, and aroused the servant girl, who came into the room; but by this time it was impossible to do anything to arrest the progress of the fire. The house contained over ten rooms, and was in excellent order. It was most handsomely furnished, some of the choicest furniture having recently arrived from England. The residence was insured for £700, and the furniture for a like amount, in the New Zealand Insurance Company. Nothing in the way of furniture was saved. Mrs. Hancock, whose attention, was absorbed by seeing to the safety of her infant, did not succed in securng her clothes, and had to proceed to a neighbour's house adjacent to procure afresh supply for herself and baby. Mrs. Hadley succeeded in saving part of her's, but her dress, in the pocket of which was a purse containing £8, was destroyed. The servant girl has saved all her clothing, &c. Mrs. Hancock, child, and servant were hospitably accommodated at Mr. Dennison's Pioneer Store, in the vicinity, where they are at present staying, and Mrs. Hadley returned to her town residence. It is understood that the insurance will by no means cover Mr. Hancock's loss, as no expense had been spared in the appointments of the residence, which contained also many articles of verlu.