FIRES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20087, 2 May 1927, Page 10

FIRES.

A LAUNCH DESTROYED. (Special to Daily Times.)

AUCKLAND, Mar 1. A spectacular fire which attracted hundreds of people occurred at Kohimarama last night, when a large launch, the Edna White, valued at several thousand pounds, suddenly burst into flames just the owner. Captain George White, had stepped on to the wharf after landing a party from the city. The flames spread with great rapidity, and in a short time the launch was a blazing inferno. At an early stage of the lire the boat was towed inshore on to a mudflat, but the brigade could do nothing to cheok the flames. The fire burned until midnight, lighting the harbour up for miles round. It is understood that the launch was insured for £IBOO. POST OFFICE DEMOLISHED. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON. May 1. . The post office and store at Pahautanui were burnt on Friday at 7 p.m., the building being demolished in 20 minutes. Nothing was saved. Money and postal order/ were locked in the safe, but the mails were burnt. The cause of the fire was a defective chimney. The insurances were under £IOOO all told. Mr S. Gough, who was the owner of the store and also the postmaster, had been there only four months, and is a considerable loser. BLAZE AT DEBORAH BAY. An unoccupied four-roomed house and byre, owned by Mr Ernest Wheeler, was destroyed by fire at Deborah Bay on Saturday night. The house was insured for £2OO with the Norwich Union Insurance Company. A DWELLING BURNED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) PALMERSTON, May 1. About a quarter past six on Saturday morning Mr D. MTCnight and family were awakened by a crackling noise, and discovered that their house was on fire. The house, which was a largo one, wae fitted with electrical conveniences, and the fire appeared to have started near electrical super-heater. Practically nothing was saved. Although the building and furniture were insured, Mr M’Knight will be a heavy loser.