LOSSES BY FIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20366, 21 September 1929, Page 10

LOSSES BY FIRE.

SHOPS AT PANMURE, DESTRUCTION OF POST OFFICE. TWO MOTOR VEHICLES SAVED.

A block of buildings at Panmure, com prising two shops, one of them unoccupied and the other used as the local post office, a storeroom, garage and living rooms, was razed by fire early yesterday •£ morning. The building was occupied by Mr. J. B. Tanner, who was the only person on the premises at the time of the outbreak and who had to make a harried escape in bis night attire. Awakened by the crackling of the flames Mr. Tanner seized the mail in the post f '■f office. He then removed a motor-car and a truck from the garage before they were ~- damaged. ... < "

There is no water supply to Panmure, the needs of the residents being met by rainwater tanks, and the building 'was soon doomed. The dry timber blazed 1 fiercely. Everything inside the building was destroyed. The building was insured for £3OO in the Royal Office and £250 in another office, while the insurance on the stock was £2OO in the Royal Office. The old Panmure post office was burned less than two years ago,! ■

FAMILY'S HURRIED ESCAPE.

EARLY MORNING OUTBREAK.

A hurried escape throngh a window wa» made by Mr. and Mrs. A. Payne, with their two young children, when & fire broke out in their house in Hill Street, Newmarket, early yesterday morning. Mr. and Mrs. Payne were awakened by the crackling of the fire and discovered the back rooms in flames. They hurriedly seized their two-months-old baby, and, picking up their tws-year-old child from its cot, • rushed - toward the front door. The hall was already in flames and the door had caught alight, barring exit. Mr, Payne then rau to the living room, threvr open the window and lifted the children and his wife out. Ho then went for assistance and summoned the Newmarket fire Brigade, which arrived oil' the scene to find the house burning strongly. '

Tho brigade effected a good save. Two of the five rooms were badly damaged and the'furniture they contained was. destroyed, but a large part of the house was practically untoached, save for damage by water.

The house wati insured for £3OO with the Eagle and Star Company.

AH UNOCCUPIED HOUSE.

FLAMES SWEEP TWO ROOMS.

An unoccupied house in Lawrenc* Street, Ponsonby, was badly. damaged by fire shortly before noon yesterday. The flames had a good hold before the brigade arrived, but they were subdued after two rooms at the back had been swept. The other rooms were damaged by smoke. The house is owned by Mrs. IL D. and is insured, in the. Sftuth British Offic?. It was yacated a .short time ago. .