FIRES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3942, 1 October 1929, Page 27

FIRES.

BOARDING HOUSE DESTROYED. WAIPUKURAU, September 24. At 4.20 this morning a well-known landmark, the Devonshire Boarding House, a two-storeyed place of 17 rooms, was totally destroyed by fire. The building was owned by Mr A. E. Jull, of Waipawa, and was leased by Mrs A. B. Meinung. lhe seven boarders escaped in their night attire, and all are heavy losers. lhe origin appears to have been in the kitchen, but the cause is unknown. The building, 24 years old, was formerly known as the Tavistock Hotel. Mrs Meinung’s furniture and effects were insured for £270. A fireman, Arthur Green, had his hand cut by falling iron, and several stitches were necessary. One boarder was badly singed, and all had a narrow escape.

INSURANCES ON CONVENT. AUCKLAND, September 24. The portion of the Star of the Sea Convent at Howick which was destroyed by fire yesterday was insured for £2500, and the contents were fully covered., the insurances being in the Phcenix Assurance Company. HOTEL DESTROYED. GREYMOUTH, September 25. The Rapahoe Hotel, near Greymouth, was destroyed by fire early this morning. A passing motorist saw the flames, and, entering the hotel, found all 12 residents asleep and unaware of the outbreak. No water was available, and little or nothing was saved. The licensee was Mr Jack Doyle, and the building was owned by Mr R. Poschich. The insurance on Doyle’s stock was £4OO. HOUSE DESTROYED AT WAITARA. NEW PLYMOUTH. S-eptember 25. The fourth mysterious fire in Waitara within a month occurred in the early hours of this morning, when the house of Mr D. I George was destroyed. In the previous fires suspicions were aroused and m this case it is stated that the flobrs of all the rooms were ablaze simultaneously. The house was covered by insurance. FIVE-ROOMED HOUSE DESTROYED. CHRISTCHURCH, September 2S. A five-roomed furnished unoccupied house, situated on the esplanade, North Beach, near I’acifie road, and owned "by Mr J. H. Forrest, was totally destroyed by fire at 3.30 o’clock this morning. The house was enveloped in flames when .the alarm was given. The New Brighton V’oluntcer Fire Brigade turned, out promptly, but was unable to save anything, and the place was totally destroyed. The insurances on the dwelling, if any, weer not ascertainable.

OUTBREAK IN A GARAGE. CROMWELL. September 28. A fire which at one stage showed danger of assuming serious proportions occurred in the main street .of Cromwell shortly after 7 p.m. on Friday evening, but fortunately was mastered by the timely arrival of the fire brigade. The outbreak was in Mr John Anderson’s garage, other buildings being within a few feet on either side. Although the main walls and the roof were not destroyed the linings and fittings were badly damaged, and also much of the office. The contents were caved. Three cars were pulled out, but not before they had been considerably damaged. One, the property of the garage owner, is covered by small insurance, and the building is also insured. The other cars were not insured. The cause of the outbreak is not known.

A GARAGE BLAZE. The City Fire Brigade received a call to Messrs Davidson, Gillies and Co.’s garage in Moray place at 1.28 on Friday morning, where a lire had broken out. Three motor cars were badly burnt, and the workshop was also damaged. The brigade arrived just in time to save the main building, where the most valuable of the stock was housed. The cause of the fire is unknown. The building was insured in the Victoria office, the damaged portion being covered by a policy for £7O. The contents were lovered by the A.P.A. office for £4OO, and the equipment for £lOO. The second-hand cars were also insured in that office for £5OO. The total damage is estimated at £6OO.