FIRES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12279, 25 May 1903, Page 5

FIRES.

HOUSE DESTROYED AT MOUNT

EDEN. On Saturday night a five-roomed house in Grange Road, Mount Eden, owned and occupied by Mr. Thomas Hoare, was totally destroyed by fire, together with its contents, nothing being saved. Mr. Hoare left home about eight o'clock and locked up the premises securely. He left a fire in the kitchen and some clothes in front of the stove to dry. On returning home about halfpast ten he found the kitchen on fire and full of smoke, and it was not long before the flames had a good hold of the premises. The alarm was given and the Mount Eden fire brigade turned out, but arrived too late to be of any use. Mr. Hoare considers the outbreak purely accidental, and estimates his loss at £75 over and above the amount of his insurance. The house, which was erected two years ago, was insured with the New Zealand Insurance Company for £260, and the furniture was covered by a policy with the Liverpool. London, and Globe Comnanv for £100.

STABLE DESTROYED AT MANGERE.

A five-stalled stable at Mangere, with liay-loft above and a cow-byre attached, was totally destroyed by fire early yesterday morning. The buildings, with fourroomed cottage, were situated on a fiveacre section opposite the Mangere bridge school, and were the property of Mr. J. Laking, tailor, of Onehunga. The fire was first discovered about two o'clock in the morning by Mr. C. Taylor, who lives on the adjoining section. Mr. Taylor and his sons immediately formed a bucket brigade (there being a good supply of water for domestic purposes from Onehunga), and by this means succeeded, with the aid of Constable O'Grady and members of the Onehunga Fire Brigade, in partially saving the cottage. The end of the cottage, however, was burnt, and as the whole building was in great danger ot being destroyed, the brigade took out all the windows and doors. The cottage was occupied by a man named O'Connell, who, it is stated, had been away from home for three or four days. A man named C. Claydon was working on the farm all day on Saturday for Mr. Laking, and when he left in the evening there was no appearance of fire, and everything was perfectly secure. The stables and cow-byre were insured for £50, and the cottage for £50 with the South British Insurance Company. Mr. Laking estimates his loss on the buildings destroyed at fully £50 over the insurance.

HOUSE BURNED AT THAMES. [from ottr own correspondent.] . Thames, Saturday. An eight-roomed two-storeyed dwellinghouse, situated at the corner of Sealey and Augustus Streets, Block 27, owned by Mr. Daniel Cottee, was totally destroyed by fire, together with nearly all its contents, shortly before twelve o'clock last night. Mr. and Mrs. Cottee were absent at Wailii at' the time, but Miss Cottee „aud a friend named Miss Lyes were sleeping in one of the upstairs bedrooms, directly over the kitchen. Miss Cottee was the first to awake and discover the outbreak, at which time the flames had burnt through from the room below. She immediately aroused her companion, and the two attempted to pass into the bedroom generally occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Cottee, but they found that this room was also in Haines, which had burnt up through the floor from the diningroom below. Fortunately the two young women managed to effect their escape "from the burning building, which by this time was almost wrapt in flamed. The fire brigade was quickly on the scene, but owing to the rather low pressure of water available, all attempts to save the building proved futile, and it was only by the extreme efforts put- forth that the dwell-ing-house of Mr. Thos. Clarke, which was situated within about 2.oft of the burning building, was saved. The cause of the outbreak is unknown, but it is surmised that it originated in the dining-room, where there had been a fire in a register-grate during the evening, and in which there were a few embers left when the young women retired to bed. The house and furniture were insured in the Commercial Union Office, the former for £200, and the latter for £250, but the loss is estimated at over £200 above the insurance. Onlj r two or three articles of the furniture were saved.