FIRE NEAR KAIWARRA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1250, 13 February 1896, Page 38

FIRE NEAR KAIWARRA.

An unoccupied six-roomed house close to Mr G. W. Banks’ boiling-down establish-mentandelaughter-house,betweenKaiwarra and Ngahauranga, was totally destroyed by fire on Monday. Until a few days ago the building had been occupied by Mr H. Newport. A carpenter named J. Snooks had been effecting sundry repairs to the house during the past day or two, and he left the houso about 8 o’clock last night, and everything appeared quite safe then. • The building is situated on the hill alongside the road, and the flames wero therefore carried over the slaughter-house, which is on the level of the road. Tho wind, too, fortunately, carried tho sparks away from the slaughter-house, and Mr Banks’ residence, which is situated on the hill on the opposite side of the gully which runs up through tho hills. Had the slaughter-house been destroyed, Mr Banks would have been a very heavy loser, as lie Had about <£lso worth of

tallow, as well as a large quantity of stock, all uninsured, on the premises. The fire was discovered by Mrs Banks, who was awakened by the glare of the flames on the window of her bedroom. A telephone message was at once sent to town, and a detachment of the Fire Brigade went out, but by the time they reached the scene the building was almost level with the ground. The property, we are informed, is owned by Mr F. Martin, Mr Banks having leased it from him.