DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT PAPAKURA VALLEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11200, 21 October 1899, Page 5

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT PAPAKURA VALLEY.

On Tuesday, the 16th inst., the residence of Mr. G. H. Hansch, Papakura Valley, containing six .rooms, was burned to the ground. The fire occurred in the afternoon at about three o'clock, and so quickly did the flames spread that practically nothing was saved. The only way that they can account for the fire, is that a spark from the chimney must have ignited the shingles on the roof, and burned down into one of tho bedrooms. Only Mrs. Hansch was in the house at the time, and it had obtained a strong hold when she noticed it, for although she immediately gave the alarm to her husband, who was not iar off, he was unable to do anything toward* recovering any of the furniture. The house was covered by a policy of insurance for £75 in the Standard, and the loss on this will not be very heavy, but there was only £25 on the contents, whioli will not nearly cover Mr. Hansch s loss. 'J he greatest loss, however, will be sustained by Mr. Warlich, a stepson of Mr. Hansch s. who had only recently come from town with his wife and our young children. His furniture and "fuels' we entirely destroyed, and another German friend, who was also staying in the house, lost effects which he estimates to be worth £300. The two latter were not covered by insurance. —[Own Correspondent.]