Fire at Pahiatua.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume II, Issue 122, 12 March 1894, Page 2

Fire at Pahiatua.

At half past twelve o’clock last night a half hearted peal on the cracked fire-bell alarmed the few people who slept within sound of its dolorous pealing. A more vigorous tintiaabulation immediately afterwards somewhat extended the oircle of alarm and brought more people into the open air. A glare down towards the end of the Palmerston North road sufficiently indicated the position cf ihe fire, and very soon a slender stream of half-awakened humanity was making towards the burning pile, which proved to be a threeroomed weather-board cottage, owned by Mrs Stirling, but at present unoccupied Mr and Mrs Stirling having, about a fortnight aga, transferred themselves and their belongings to Mr J. Breeds' station, N’gaturi, where Mr Stirling is employed. Several firemen were pree -nt wi*h l u k**ts, but nothing could be done. The tiro ha i a good hold of the building, and it was use ess attempting to prevent its destruction. Fences were burning fiercely at iifferent parts, and at the«e places the flames were extinguished. The cause of the outbreak is unknown. There were some burning logs in the immediate I vicinity, which may have been responsible ' for the outbreak. The building was in- f sured for £25 with the Liverpool, London, and Globe Insurance Company. A tenant wie to have gone into the college to day.