DESTRUCTION BY FIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20947, 10 August 1931, Page 8

DESTRUCTION BY FIRE.

LARGE HOUSE AT OPOTIKI. BUILDING NOT OCCUPIED. [EX TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] OPOTIKI, Saturday. A fire at 4.25 this morning destroyed an eight-roomed house in Bridge Street, owned by Mr. J. Addis, of Auckland. The house had been empty for three weeks. The fire had a good hold when it was seen and there was no chance of the brigade saving the house. The insurance is £BOO with tho New Zealand Office. TE KAUWHATA OUTBREAK. SHOP AND HOUSE BURNED. [EI TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.! TE KAUWHATA, Sunday. A spectacular fire shortly after 10 p.m. yesterday completely destroyed an unoccupied five-roomed dwelling and shop in the main street of s Te Ivauwhata. The building, which was owned by Mr. F. Woodhams, had been vacated in the afternoon by the tenant. Tho fire was noticed by a passer-by, who gave the alarm, and a volunteer bucket brigade was able to prevent the flames from spreading to premises a few yards away on either side. Fortunately there was no wind at the time. TE KUITI DWELLING BURNED. NONE OF CONTENTS SAVED. [from our own correspondent.] TE KUITI, Saturday. A four-roomed dwelling owned and occupied by Mr. Donald McDonald in George Street was gutted by fire at an early hour this morning, and tho contents destroyed. Mr. McDonald was tho only occupant of the house at the time. The fire brigade was promptly on the 6cene, but could not- save the building, as the flames had too strong a hold when the outbreak was discovered. A DAY OF FIRES. $ HEADMASTER'S EXPERIENCE. To have threo fires within as many hours was the experience of Mr. 11. E. Wallis, headmaster of the Greytown school last we?k. During a gale the chimney at the school house caught fire, and burned furiously for half an hour, sparks flying in all directions.

Later it was discovered that the garage at the back of the building was on fire. Mr. Wallis backed out his car, and succeeded in suppressing the outbreak. His troubles wero not over, however, for shortly after 7.30 o'clock fire broke out in the roof of his house. The brigade appeared on tho scene, and commenced coupling tho hose to the high-pressure supply. In the meantime, however, someone ascended the roof and extinguished the flames with a garden hose, much to Mr. Wallis' relief, as had the brigade used its hose damage must have been done to his library, which is valued at £IOOO.