FOUR COTTAGES BURNED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20217, 30 March 1929, Page 10

FOUR COTTAGES BURNED.

FIERCE FIRE AT OPFSAKE. VOLUNTEERS STOP SPREAD^ BUCKET BRIGADE FORMED. STRENUOUS WORK AT MIDNIGHT. [ST TEUKXIAFH- —COSSESFOjrCEXT. - ! :CE7T PLYMOUTH, Thursday. - Four cottages on the Gpunake EeacS went up in flames at midnight. The fbs was arrested only in the early hours «■<£ this morning by the strenuous efforts of a bucket brigade formed by resident*. " Two yorng znen, Messrs. G. Ifleaaer. hassett and W. Haggett, who were living in a cottage next to the beach pavihon " discovered the outbreak about 11.30 p.nv" They were attracted by a crackling co»V and rushing out found a neighbouring cottage, belonging to Mr. Phillips, of Eltham, on fire. They gave the alana and endeavoured to find buckets and other means by which to combat the outbreak. By this time the fire had a good bola. A northerly wind was carrying the fames" away from the pavilion down a line of cottages.

Tongues of fiaEs quickly enveloped aa adjacent cottage, owned by Mr. Gamlia - Of Kapuni, and then crept on to a tw> storeyed cottage, of which Mrs. Goo-h-or, of Hawera, was th« owner.

The fourth dwelling in the fire's destructive path was that of Mr. R. Brizbouse, of New Plymouth, and it also wig completely destroyed. Mr. Brighouse's cottage was the only one *hich was tenanted, but the occupants were all awar at the time. A considerable amovnt of furniture and bedding was saved by vhe volunteer workers.

The walls of Mr. Code's cottage scorched, and although all the fornrtara was removed the fire fighters -were sHe to save this building by hanking up sajid and protecting the walls with comgated irca and water. The volunteer,! did great work ia suppressing the fire, rushing backwards and forwards with, buckets to the sea and to water taps, which were the. only water supply available. Dozens poured water on the flames in surprising quantities.

A ladies' dressing shed caught alight, bat the fire was not permitted to secure a hold. It is understood that some ef the loss is covered by insurance.

REMUERA HOUSE IJT /LAMES. GOOD SATE BY BRIGADE. Four rooms of a niae-roomed house a* 28, Remnera Road, were gutted by a fire ■which broke out ia the house at about three o'clock on Thursday morning. The occupants, Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Baggott and their daughter, were awakened by tha agitated calls of a Mexican parrot, winch formed part- of an extensive collection of birds and small animals in the house. The fire apparently started in the centre of the bouse, and when the occupants were awakened they had to make a hurried escape with an armful of clothes, through a side "door on to a verandah, the front and rear entrances being blocked by flamesThe Remuera and Parnell Fire Brigades answered the alarm and were able to confine the flames to tbe four rooms which were already blazing. The pets in Mr. Baggott's collection were removed to safety. The staircase leading to the upper storey was burned through, and a fireman slipped and fell when attempting to run a lead to the upper part of the house. The cause of the fire is not kno^n. The owner of the house is Mr. E. E. Daniels of Omifm Roatf, Remuera, and it is insured for £BOO -with the New Zealand Insurance Company. The contents which were owned by Mr. and Baggott, were insured in the Royal Office for £2OO.

OUTBREAKS I3T SUBURBS. COAL AND WOODSHED LOST, A coal and firewood shed at the back e£ the premises in Queen Street, Onehunga, occupied by H. Brav and Tr-ompany •was destroyed by fire shortly before threa o'clock yesterday morning. The shed contained a large quantity of coal, firewood, hay and straw. The alarm was given by a but the fire had a very strong hold -when the Onehunga brigade arrived, and it was not subdued for nearly two hours. The building and contents were insured fo? £3OO in the Standard Office, but the loss is estimated at several hundred pounds in excess of that sum. A four-roomed cottage in Grotto Street, Te Papapa, was badly damaged by fire about nine o'clock ou Thursday eveniDg. The dwelling had not been occupied foe three weeks. The Onehunga brigade sue. ceeded in suppressing the flames aftei; two rooms had been swept. Fire destroyed a dwelling occupied by Mr. F. Taylor in Forest Hill Road, Henderson, yesterday afternoon.