HOUSES BURNED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23205, 26 November 1938, Page 14

HOUSES BURNED

TE PUKE OUTBREAK'

LACK OF WATER SUPPLy*/;

MOST OF CONTENTS SAVED S

[BT TELEGRAPH —OW.V CORRESPONDED vt TE PUKE, Friday ft The largest fire for many years jW Te Puko occurred to : day •when two? houses belonging to Mr. H. Guy, the corner of No. 4 Road, were troyed. The houses were occupied by Mr. T. Guy and Mr. and Mrs. 'Whit, tington and Mr. Mark Whittingtou. Most of tho contents of both was saved.

Fanned by a steady westerly wind tho flames gained a strong hold 0 f Mr. Guy's home and were soon swept across the narrow space to tho second house. So rapidly did the fire spread that within 45 minutes of the sounding of the alarm there was not one up, right timber in either of the dwellings. The first to catch alight was re« duccd to a heap of twisted iron andf! smouldering timbers within a quarter of an hour. Occupants Away at Time An unfortunate combination oj wind, lack of water and pinus insignia timber was responsible for this swift destruction. i Everyone was absent from Mr. Guy'* ' house, whore the fire began. The flames. had a good hold on tho back of tha house before it was discovered. Although less than a chain away Mrs, Whittington noticed nothing sus. picious except a faint smell of burn, ing, which was not sufficiently strong to alarm her. Abour the time that the alarm was given some people travel, ling from Tauranga noticed smoka pouring from the back windows^

Many Willing Helpeis Although the houses were outeida the borough boundary the fire brigade turned out, and by the time it arrived a crowd of well over 100 people had collected. Willing assistants were risking the fumes from the burning pine wood and removing furniture from, the Whittington home. Everything that could be removed was saved, including the bath and the copper. Except for tanks the only water supply was by a i'm. pipe connected with the town supply. The nearest hydrant was at the dairy factory. It is understood that the houses are insured with the Pearl Assurance office for about £750. There was no insurance on the furniture. '