CONVENT FIRE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23121, 20 August 1938, Page 16

CONVENT FIRE

BUILDING DESTROYED OUTBREAK AT NORTHCOTE SISTER SLIGHTLY INJURED ESTIMATED LOSS OF £3OOO Fire destroved the convent of the Dominican Sisters in Onewa Road, Northcote, shortly before noon yesterday, the single-storey, M-roomcd budding being reduced to ashes. One of the residents, Sister St. Roche, was slightly injured, being scorched when endeavouring to extinguish the flames, and both she and the prioress, the Rev. Mother di Pazzi, suffered from shock. The other sisters in residence were away at the time. The property destroyed is valued at about £IIOOO. Nothing was saved from the convent, all the " furniture, including three pianos, and other contents, being destroyed with the building. The residents also lost all their belongings. The outbreak is believed to have originated in the laundry, under the kitchen at the back of the western wing of the building. Sister St. Roche discovered the wall of the laundry on fire, and hastened to advise Mother di Pazzi, who was in tile music room with two pupils. The alarm was given by telephone.

Adjoining Premises Saved Dense smoke rapidly filled the building, and Mother di Pazzi was unable to enter again, niter seeing the two pupils off the premises. It was at this stage that Sister St. Roche, in trying to cpiell the (lames, was injured. Spreading swiftly, the fire soon had a strong hold, and flames were breaking through the roof by the time the Northcoto fire brigade arrived. Fanned by the westerly breeze, the fire soon enveloped the whole building, and, although the Northcote brigade was reinforced by the Birkenhead engine and pump, the brigadesmcn had a hopeless task. They succeeded, however, in preventing damage to the adjoining premises f;n the eastern side, owned by Mr. R. E. Cadness and occupied by Mr. R. E. Pirani. Roof and Walls Collapse Both the roof and the walls of the blazing convent collapsed suddenly, leaving only a mass of smouldering wreckage, with one chimney still standing. The building was purchased in ]!KS2 from Mr. A. W. Smith, and additions hail since been made. Both the structure and its contents were insured with the Phoenix Office. Having lost all their personal belongings, and been rendered homeless, the sisters left in the afternoon for Helensville, where they will be accommodated in the meanwhile, a community of the same order having been established there prior to the taking over of the Northcoto convent. The building had bceu occupied by the sisters for over five years, Mother di Pazzi having been in charge since she came from Diinedin in 1933. Lessons were in progress at the time of the outbreak at the convent school, behind the Catholic Church, on the opposite side of the road from the burning convent. It was the last day of the term. DWELLING IN THE CITY

DAMAGE DONE TO ROOMS Two fire engines from the Central Fire Station and ono from Western Districts attended a lire which broke out late 011 Thursday night in a fiveroomed house owned and occupied by Mrs. V. Armstrong, at 2(3 Graham Street, City. Considerable damage was done to sOmo of the rooms by tho outbreak, tho eauso of which is unknown. Tho houso and contents were insured for £4OO.