DESTRUCTION BY FIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20171, 4 February 1929, Page 10

DESTRUCTION BY FIRE.

HOUSE AT BIRKENHEAD.

OCCUPANTS' TIMELY AWAKENING

ROUGH RIDE FOR BRIGADE.

Firo completely destroyed a sevenroomed house in Waipa Street, Birkenhead, about 10 o'clock last evening. The only occupant was Mr. Frank Hoolihan. the father-in-law of the owner, Mr. Percy Johnson.

Mr. Hoolihan retired to bed about eight o'clock and two hours later was awakened by the roar of tho flames. Ho then found tho whole house was ablaze and barely had time to escape from the building. Meanwhile the flames had been seen in Northcole, and the Northcote Fire Brigade set out for tho fire, which was nearly five miles away. So bad was one portion of the road that the brigade engine was forced to travel on tho footpath. When tho brigade arrived the outbreak had obtained such a hold that it was impossible to save the building, which was burned to tho ground with all the contents. The house was insured for £BSO and the furniture for £2OO, both policies being held by tho State Fire Office. WOMAN'S NARROW ESOAPE. NAPIER STREET INCIDENT. Considerable damago to two rooms resulted from a fire which broke out shortly before 2 o'clock on Saturday morning in a five-roomed houso in Napier Street, owned by Mr. S. J. Polglaso and occupied by Mrs. E. W. Yeates, who narrowly escaped being trapped by the flames. Awakened by the sound of fire in the rear of tho house and smoke entering the bedroom, Mrs. Yeates, who was alone in the house, attempted to escape along a passage-way, but could not do so owing to tho smoko and heat. Handicapped by an illness from which she is suffering, she returned to the bedroom, which was already threatened by the flames, and scrambling through a window, managed to reach the street. Tho City Fire Brigade was able to save the front portion of tho house. The house was insured for £2OO with tho South British office, and the contents for £l5O with tho Guardian Assurance Company. FACTORY IN DANGER. TIMBER FIRE SOOfi SUBDUED. A fire among old timber near the factory of Mr. P. G. Wolfe in Gillies Avenue, Newmarket, was responsible for a call being received by the Newmarket brigade on Saturday evening. The timber had been stacked close to tho factory after a fire some months ago, and although little damago was done there was risk of the fire spreading to the factorv. Tho outbreak was soon extinguished. COTTAGE NEAR HTJNTLY. NOTHING SAVED FROM FLAMES. [BY TELEGRArH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HTJNTLY, Saturday. A four-roomed cottage at Pukekapia, owned and occupied by Mr. George Bowen, was destroyed by fire at about 2.30 this morning. Mr. Bowen and his son retired as usual last night and everything then seemed safe. When aroused by the flames and smoko they had barely time to escape from the building and saved nothing. Tho dwelling and contents were insured for £2OO in the State Office. SERIOUS LOSS AT WESTPORT. THREE SHOPS IN FLAMES. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION'.] WESTPORT, Saturday. Serious damago was done when a fire broke out Jn Central Palmerston Street early this morning, ' but although the flames had a very strong hold before tho alarm was given and three shops were in flames the brigade saved tho adjoining buildings.

The fire is believed to have started in a room at the back of Fox's boot shop and it spread quickly on one side to Colvin's butcher's shop and 011 the other to the New Zealand Clothing Factory. All three shops were Rutted and practically nothing was saved. Tho management of tho clothing factory was -conducting a sale and was carrying a largo stock, all of which was badly damaged by fire and water. During tho height of tho blaze plateglass windows collapsed into the street. A brick wall on tho north side of Colvin's building prevented tho fire from spreading to Patterson's fruit shop and Walker's cycle depot, although both buildings were damaged by water and smoke. The brigade concentrated on the south side of tho clothing factory and prevented tho flames from spreading to King's fruit shop and Miss Carey's and Miss Kelly s dressmaking establishment. It was about an hour before the brigade had the blaze thoroughly under control. Tho occupants of two hotels closo by mndn a hasty exit with their belongings. Colvin's building, which included Fox's shop, was insured for £250 in tho Yorkshire Office. Mr. Colvin had an insurance of £l5O on his stock and fittings and Mr. Fox £IOO on his stock and machinery.

The New Zealand Clothing Factorv's building and stock were insured for £3500 in tho United, Alliance and Standard Offices.