Dunedin Fire Does Great Damage

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 749, 23 August 1929, Page 11

Dunedin Fire Does Great Damage

THREE HOUSES HARMED ONE TOTALLY DESTROYED Press Association DUNEDIN, Today. Early this morning an old wooden two-storeyed building - of 14 rooms, known as “Haiwatha,” owned and occupied by Peter Torrie and used as a boarding-house at St. Clair, was destroyed by fir© and the adjoining house, owned and occupied by Mr. W. J. McLauchlan, a journalist, was also badly damaged, the contents being practically a total loss. The occupants of “Haiwatha” just managed to escape In time, but lost their personal propert3*. Mr. McLauchlan and his family were absent from their home. A Rover car owned by Mr. S. Brcmford, garaged at “Haiwatha,” was also totally destroyed. Another house, occupied by Mrs. Lawson, was slightly damaged. The brigade was handicapped through inadequate water supply. The heat was terrific and several firemen had their hands blistered. The cause of the fire is unknown. Insurances are are follow: —Mr. McLauchlan, £250 on his furniture, in the New Zealand Office, and £I,OOO on his house in the Australian Provincial Office. Mr. Bremford’s motor-car, £IOO in the Standard Office.