FIRE AT TAKAPUNA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16673, 18 October 1917, Page 4

FIRE AT TAKAPUNA.

FIVE-ROOMED HOUSE BURNED.'V; A five-roomed residence in Beach Avenue,:, v Takapuna, was destroyed by firo on Tuesday night. The house was occupied by ;,- Mr. F. McVay, clerk of works to tho-£ Borough Council, who was renting it nr * •' ■ pished from the owner, Mr. Adam Hender« son, of Devonport. Mrs. McVay was alone in the house at::; the time. She had retired at about 10':/'; p.m., And an hour and a half later was awakened by smoke. She i»vy.V mediately made 'her way out andjix raised the alarm Her 'husband was £ at. the Foresters' Hall, where he was the^. ■ guest of the members and staff of the.' council, and several friends, at a social,. evening tendered to him or the eve of bis o;. departure for camp. He hud just received : a presentation when news of the firejj| • reached the hall. Two neighbours, Messrs. A. C Gallagher-; ;,. and Bioletti, were the first on the scene, -.^ ; and they commenced to save the contents ... of the house, being shortly afterwards;.;.;--:, assisted by new arrivals. A quantity": />• the furniture was saved, but Mr. and Mrs. ..-.;; McVay's possessions, being packed ana : stored in the room where the outbreak .... originated, were destroyed. The & re , quickly gained a hold on the building, ■__■ ■■■ which was burned to the ground, but, by the efforts of the onlookers, the liam«> were prevented from spreading to the r '" 31 ': : ; dence of the Mayor, next door. .No " re fighting appliances were available., - V\:' The contents of the house were iM«e fl .-■ --. for £100 in the Australian Alliance Office- ';:)■: Mr. McVay, who is well known in '***%::& circles, lost several trophies, paper*, r*" other, property which cannot be repla*' '_ '