DISASTROUS FIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8473, 26 January 1891, Page 5

DISASTROUS FIRE.

A PRIVATE RESIDENCE DESTROYED. DAMAGES, £30,000. NO INSURANCES. [BY telegraph.—press association.] Christchurch, Saturday. Mr. G. H. Moore's residence, Glenmark, near Amberley, was destroyed by fire today, nothing but the walls and chimneys being left standing. Only about £100 worth of furniture was saved. The damage is estimated at over £30,000. The furniture alone cost £11,000. The house, which was of groat size, was constructed of brick and stone, and cost £15,000 when built eight years ago, and has been extensively added to. Further details of the Glenmrrk fire show that it originated at half-past twelve p.m. whilst Mr. Moore was in his room, and started in the roof or very near it, either from the ignition of inflammable matter collected by sparrows or through a loose match having fallen in the chamber near the water tanks. No doubt it arose through misadventure. The first alarm was given by the servant, who called out that the chimney was on fire. Before Mr. Moore had time to decide its location the whole of the upper storey was in flames, which were shooting out of the windows. To ring the lirebell of the station and attach the hose occupied bub a very brief time, and although a score of men with four servants were quickly engaged in the work of saving articles of value nearly everything was destroyed. The north-west gale sent the fire through the grounds in all directions, setting fire to the trees, and going in the direction of the stables, threatening to destroy them. Finding that the efforts of saving property in the house were of no avail attention was turned by the men, who worked hard, to save the plantations and buildings at the homestead. Fortunately they were successful, but fires have taken place in the plantations caused by embers blown about. One of the female servants was missed for a time, but she was found in the shubbery, where she had fainted. Mr. Moore's papers were mostly saved. There is no insurance.