FIRE AT PONSONBY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18889, 11 December 1924, Page 11

FIRE AT PONSONBY.

BURNING OF THREE HOUSES.

INMATES* NARROW ESCAPES.

LOSS ESTIMATED AT £5000.

The fire in Waitemata Street, on the Ponsonby waterfront, at an early hour yesterday morning, caused damage to the extent of over £5000. The fire started in a large three-storey boarding house, which was completely destroyed, and spread to two smaller dwellings adjoining, both of which were almost burned out. In the i>oarding house were almost 20 people, six of whom were women and two schoolgirls, while the house to the east containod the owner, his wife and two female relatives. All were fortunateiy aroused in time to make their escape. The third house, on the west side, was in course of erection, and was consequently unoccupied.

Tho firo -ipparently started in tho kitchen of the tall three-storey building used as a bo.rding house by Mrs. Peddy. When Mrs. I'eddv retired at about 11.30 p.m. on Tuesday evening overthing appeared to bo in order, but about 1.15 a.m. Mr. E. McGuinness, who occupied a room near the kitchen, was awakened by smoke and the crackling of burning timbers. Ho immediately aroused the inmates, most of whom were compelled to seek safety in their night attire. So great was the volume of flame inside the building that the stairways were by this time afire, Jtnd occupants of the upper floors reached tho ground by means of a firo escape on the outside of the building, but even this was ablaze before the last was accounted for. One of the lady boarders was so overcome that she fainted, and had to be carried doivn the escape to safety. In the meantime Mr. Merton Johnston ran to Ponsonby post office, almost half a milo away, to give the alarm, not being aware there was an alarm box within 100 yds. of the buriing building and another within 300 yds. in another direction. However, Miss Brown, a lady boarder, reached tho nearest alarm and summoned tho brigade, just before Mr. Johnston got his call through.

Rapid 'Progress of the Fire. Engines from the city and wester, districts statons were on the seem within 12 minutes of discovery of the fire, but by that time tho largo housr was a seething mass of flames and was obviously doomed, while the dwellings on each sido wero also ablaze. The occupants of the dwelling on the east side oi the boarding house were aroused by the roar of flames and nu.de a hasty exit, but were able to save somo articles from the dining room. The third house, tho new bungalow, was also burning fiercely, despite the efforts of the firemen to confine the blaze to the larger building. A high wind from tho harbour was carrying the fiames across the narrow street and endangering tho residenco of Mrs. A. J. Nelson opposite. In fact, the gate and wooden railings of tho fence were soon alight, windows were broken by the heat and the front of the building was badly scorched. Most of the furniture was removed, but was later returned when it was seen the danger had passed. Tho fire brigade, under Superintendent Wilson, made valiant efforts to suppress the outbreak, although they wero handicapped by the insufficiency of the water supply. While tho larger building stood it menaced everything around it, but when it eventually collapsed tho firemen were able xo conoer.trate their efforts on the two adjoining buildings, . both of which were about two-thirds destroyed before the firo was under control.

While \.x>rking in tho dwelling to tho east Fire'nan Charles Alexander Woolley, of the western districts brigade, was thrown into a mass of burning debris through fie collapse of a floor and had one of hi:, hands badly burned.

D?vails of the Insurances. The house where the fire started had recently been remodelled and renovated. Being built of wood and absolutely dry, it was soon enveloped in flames. The building was owned by Mr. G. H. Guv, of 409, Queen Street, and was insured for £2500, of which £1300 was held in the London and Lancashire office, and £1200 in the State Fire office. The furniture, owned by the occupier, Mrs. Peddy, was insured in the New Zealand office for £560.

The house on the east side of the boardincr house, a five-roomed dwelling, was owned and occupied by Mr. A. P. Crow. The insurances were held in the Sun office, and totalled £1060, several hundreds below the amount of the damage. Of this sum £750 was on the building, £250 on the contents and £60 on the garage. Fortunately the motorcar was not in the garage at the time. The third house, a five-roomed bungalow, was owned by Mr. A. P. Young, of St. Andrew's Eoad, Epsom, who had a policy of £850 in the Standard office.