FIRE IN PONSONBY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8065, 28 September 1887, Page 5

FIRE IN PONSONBY.

Shortly after eleven o'clock last night the city firebells rang out an alarm, and a bright glare was observed in the direction of Ponsonbv. The outbreak turned out to be in a nine-roomed house in England-street, owned and occupied by Mrs. Potts, & widow, with her two sons, Charles and James, and a boarder named Richard Anderson. The Fire Brigade and Salvage Corps were quickly on the scene, and after some good work, succeeded in confining the flames to Mrs. Fott's dwelling, , which was, however, wholly consumed. The police and detective force mustered strongly under Sergeant Pratt, and rendered assistance. The house contained five e rooms on the ground floor and four above—all the occupants sleeping on the first etorey. No facts have come to light regarding the origin of the fire, save that it began in the kitchen. Charles Potta stated that last night his brother James went.-to bed early, about a quarter-past eight, and Anderson, who had been fitting a lock on a box in the kitchen, followed about nino. Thoy each had a cup of cocoa, which had been prepared by Mrs. Potts betore retiring. He, himself, did not i>o upstairs till a quartor-paet ten, having just come home, his mother going about the sama time. They were very careful about fire and everything was then safe. He had been in bud for nearly an hour, but was not asleep, when he smelt smoke and heard a noise of crackling in the kitchen. He went downstairs but saw the fire had a very strong hold of the room, and returned upstairs and roused hie brother and Anderson, and got his mother out. He tried to save a dog that wae in the basement by breaking a window, but was unable to get at it owing 10 the dense smoke, and cut his hand severely with the glass. None of them saved anything, getting out only half olad, though Anderson seoured a valuable violin which he had in hie room. He lost his carpenter's tools amount' ing in value to about £20. The house had been insured for £200 for abont twenty years, and there was a risk of £100 on the furniture, both policies being in the South British ffice. Soine slight damage was done to the roof of an adjoining cottage, occupied by Mrs. Strong, but it was quickly suppressed, though the occupant deemed it advisable to have her furniture removed. When the fire was suppressed it was shifted back by the members of the Salvage Corps and the neighbours, somewhat the worse for getting wet. ANOTHER FIRE. As we went to press this morning a fire was raging in Wellington-street, but owing to the lateness of the hour we were unable to obtain any information in time for publication.