FIRES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3829, 2 August 1927, Page 28

FIRES.

ARMY HOME DESTROYED. AUCKLAND, July 26. Fire and storm combined to create a vivid picture on Parnell rise at midnight last night, when the Salvation Army Women’s Home was burned to ashes. Handicapped by an inadequate water supply, the Auckland and Parnell Fire Brigades managed to save the neighbouring houses, which were, ignited by intense heat, and thus relieved a grave situation. ' The outbreak started in the Salvation Army Home’s laundry, which was detached about 6ft from the main building. The home carries on a laundering business, and several city restaurajits lost linen, one concern losing 70 tablecloths burned in the 'fire. Girls sleeping in the room nearest the laundry were wakened by smoke and the crackling of burning timber. By that time their own room was partly alight. Hurriedly warning the other inmates they quitted the building, pursued by an advancing wall of flame. Of the 30 inmates, five of whom are members of the Army staff, only one, whose room was near an outside door, saved so much as a shred of personal belongings other than the clothes she stood up in. Among the occupants were two crippled women, whose rescue was carried out with difficulty, but with the" highest courage one woman went back into her bedroom and dragged a chest of drawers and a box on to the street. She was the only one who saved anything, and among the salvage was a pot plant hustled into the driving rain. The storm was at its height, and raged throughout. The evicted women were in a miserable plight. They found shelter on verandahs until the Parnell police took charge of them, and ultimately they were conveyed in cars to the Salvation Army Maternity Hospital, where they were housed for the night. Meanwhile the flames had taken absolute control of the burning home.

In all its stages the fire was a dramatic spectacle. Rain was falling heavily, diffusing the glare so that from the city the whole of Parnell seemed to be alight. From the laundry the flames took charge of the eastern end of the main building, swept through the first floor and basement, and then enveloped the upper structure of the house. In a paddock in the front was a horse, which neighed piteously, and made frantic efforts to leap th e fences. It suffered no harm from the ordeal.

On the east was a two-storey building owned by Miss M'Cabe and occupied by Mr and Mrs C. Froggait. It caught alight, twice, but was .saved by the brigade. The home, which was burned to ashes, was acquired By the Salvation Army 30 years ago. It was originally the property off the late Mr Edward Withy, former M.P. for Newton, who had retired from the Hartlepool (England) shipbunmng business of Furness and Withy, and came to live in New Zealand. He built me house 40 years ago, and at that time it was one of the finest homes in the city.. Built of heart of kauri throughout, it was as sound when destroyed as n the year of its creation, but was so dry that it burned like a bonfire, and only the chimneys now stand. Built on a slope the house was three storeys high in front and two at the back. The Salvation Army carries its insurances “rom headquarters at Wellington.

WHAKAREWAREWA TEA KIOSK DESTROYED. ROTORUA. July 26. The Whakarewarewa Tea Kiosk," an extensive building, was burned to the ground at 5 o’clock this morning. A heavy wind was blowing, and when the brigade arrived it could do nothing to save the building. Its efforts were consequently concentrated on the surrounding dwellings, which were effectively isolated. 'Hie kiosk was owned bv Messrs Nathan and Co., of Auckland, and was leased by Mrs Donaldson, who used it for refreshments and dancing. The carved house adjoining was not damaged. The insurances are unknown. SIDE-SHOW DAMAGED. AUCKLAND, July 27. At 11.30 last night a fire broke out in the side-show section o f the Auckland W inter Exhibition. Though the alarm was given by a night watchman, the fire had evidently been burning for several niinutes, as the flames penetrated the wall in two places and also lodged in the roof. The brigade was quickly on the scene, and soon had the outbreak under control. Little damage was done. There was a policy on the exhibits held by the authorities. BOARDING HOUSE DESTROYED. CAMBRIDGE. July 27. In the early hours of this morning a large building used as a private boarding house at Cambridge was totally destroyed by fire. The building was occupied until last Saturday by Mrs H. W. Smales, who had leased it furnished. The new tenants had not taken possession. The fire had a firm hold when it was descovered, and nothing was saved, though the brigade prevented the outbuildings from being destroyed. The furniture and effects were insured for £323 in the Norwich Union office. The insurances on the building are not available.. LOSS OF CHARABANC. FOXTON, July 27. A 28-passenger charabanc, owned byMessrs Madge Bros., of Palmerston North, and engaged in the service run to Foxton, was destroyed by fire at Moutoa last night. The fire was caused through back-firing. No passengers were on board, but. parcels and papers were destroyed. FAMILY’S NARROW ESCAPE. HAMILTON. July Fire this morning totally destroyed a house owned and occupied by J. E." Hoff-

man, at Hamilton East. The family had a narrow escape in heir night attire, and Jost everything. Details of the insurance are not available. EARLY MORNING OUTBREAK. WANGANUI, July 28. A six-roomed residence, occupied by S. Vance and family, jn Montgomery freet, St. John’s Hill, was destroyed by fire early this morning. The fire spread with great rapidity, the occupants escaping in their night attire. They lost everything. The insurances are not available. WORKSHOPS DESTROYED. NAPIER. July 23. A fire, the origin of which is unknown, at five o’clock to-day almost completely gutted the workshop of Messrs Allen and Harris, furniture makers. The buildings were situated at the rear of a large shop which, fortunately, was secured By fireproof doors. The extent of the damage was not ascertainable. Insurances totalling £12,250 on the contents arc distributed among a number of companies. BOROUGH PAVILION DESTROYED. WELLINGTON, July 29. The Eastbourne Borough Pavilion, which had been leased to A. F. Dustin, was totally destroyed by fire to-night. There was a high wind, and Eastbourne is without water. The Eastbourne Volunteer Brigade did good work with the chemical engine, and the Lower Hutt brigade camo eight miles, but could render no aid. Both the cause of the outbreak and the insurances are unknown. A GARAGE DESTROYED. BLENHEIM, July 29. A fire at G. 30 last evening at Buckman’s garage, Havelock, gutted the workshop, and destroyed £lOO worth of tyres. All the machinery was lost. The five cars in the garage were saved. The insurance on the building was £250, on the contents £3OO. The outbreak was caused by Mr Buckman dropping a tin of benzine, which came into contact with a blow lamp. An explosion occurred, and an assistant narrowly escaped injury.

HOUSE DESTROYED AT ST. LEONARDS. Fire was responsible for the complete destruction of a four-roomed wooden dwelling at St. Leonards about 10 o’clock on Tuesday night. The occupants, Mr J. Gilchrist, his wife ami two children, had a narrow escape. They only succeeded in getting clear of the burning building in their night clothes. The family retired at 8.30 p.m., and one of the children woke at 10 p.m. and discovered the house to be full of smoke. He aroused his father, and the latter lost no time in removing his family to a place of safety. By this timp the flames, fanned by a strong north-east wind, had a firm hold of the building, and Mr Gilchrist received minor burns while removing the children. In the absence of a water supply and fire brigade the house was quickly demolished. The whole of ithe contents were also completely destroyed, and Air Gilchrist is a heavy loser. His personal property destroyed included an expensive gramophone, a new bicycle, and other articles, while Mrs Gil--christ lost all her jewellery. Nearby neighbours provided the family with accommodation and clothes. The house, which was owned by the Government under the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act. was insured for £275 with the Victoria office, and the contents for £lOO with the National Company. It is believed that the fire was caused through some clothes left on a line in front of the kitchen range becoming ignited.