DESTRUCTION BY FIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19459, 15 October 1926, Page 10

DESTRUCTION BY FIRE.

DWELLING BURNED DOWN. A SPECTACULAR OUTBREAK. [by telegraph.—own correspondent.] NEW PLYMOUTH, Thursday. A five-roomed house, owned and occupied by Mr. George $ Walker, was destroyed by fire at an early hour this morning. The outbreak was a spectacular one, the flames, which had a good hold when the alarm was given by a neighbour, making rapid progress through the old building, which is known to have been built over 60 years ago. Nothing was saved and the only room to escape total destruction was the kitchen. This is intact but the contents are severely damaged by smoke and heat, . Mr. and Mrs. Walker, who have only recently acquired the property, were staying in the country at the time and knew nothing of tie occurrence until later. The house was insured for £7OO, as follows Guardian Office, £200; South British, £300; British Traders, £2OO. The furniture was covered with the New Zea>.i Office for £2OO, while the same office held a policy of £SO on a piano which was destroyed. AN UNCOMPLETED HOUSE. POINT CHEVALIER OUTBREAK. A fire-roomed house in courso of erection at Point Chevalier was badly damaged by fire last evening. The outbreak occurred shortly before nine o'clock and when the fire brigade reached the scene the building was enveloped in flames. Just before midnight a fire was discovered in the attic of a house in Alexandra Street, occupied by Mr. W. Graves and owned by Mr. J. Hill, of Onehunga. The City Brigade extinguished the outbreak before it could spread to the rest of the building.