TOTAL LOSS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27273, 27 December 1949, Page 4

TOTAL LOSS

HISTORIC HOMESTEAD GLENTANNER STATION PA TIMARU, Dec. 26. The homestead at Glentanner Station, deep in the Mackenzie Country, was completely destroyed by fire in the early hours of Christmas morning, and the manager and his family were fortunate to escape in their night clothes, all their possessions being lost in the blaze. When the fire was discovered by the manager, Mr G. W. K. Stirling, it had a strong hold, and he only had time to get away from the building before the flames roared through the rooms. Mr Stirling’s personal possessions were 'insured, although the amount is not known. The homestead was also insured, but many personal effects gathered by the family of the owners are irreplacable. The station is managed on behalf of the estate of E. R. Guinness and H. A. Le Cren. The building was valued at £ISOO. , , Glentanner Station is well known to tourists throughout New Zealand and overseas, being the last sheep station on the Lake Pukaki-Hermitage road, 14 miles short of the hostel itself. It was an eight-roomed wooden and sod building, the original portion being about 80 years old. It was constructed to house pioneer settlers in the sixties.