FIRES

Southland Times, Issue 17560, 26 January 1914, Page 5

FIRES

boardinghouse destroyed (Per United Press Association.) PALMERSTON’ N’.. January 24. A big boardinghouse at Maranui flaxmills, N’iokerua, was totally destroyed by fire at two o'clock this morning. The insurances are nine hundred pounds on the building, and six hundred and fifty pounds on the stock, furniture and two billiard tables. There Is a heavy loss over and above the insurance. The building was the property of A. and L. Seifert and Co. OUTBREAK AT LORNE FARM.

An unexplained outbreak of fire which is still shrouded in mystery occurred at Lome Farm early on Saturday morning. Shortly after seven o'clock milking was going on in the wooden cow byre, when burning hay was noticed to be dropping from the loft above. The cows bailed up were instantly released and driven clear of the building, but, there being no fire-fighting appliances at hand, nothing could be done to save the building and the implement shed which adjoins it. Two tons of chaff in the latter building were consumed by the fire, and some damage resulted to a Cambridge roller and two ploughs. The cause of the lire was investigated by two members of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, Messrs Jas. Fleming and W. Ronald, but they were unable to throw any light upon the outbreak. The insurances on the buildings destroyed were not ascertainable on Saturday owing to the absence of the Board’s secretary from town.