FIRES.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12398, 13 November 1908, Page 2

FIRES.

DESTRUCTION OF "RONAKI."

A. SEKIOUS LOSS.

, The fire fiend claimed last night one of Nelson's most beautiful homes —Mr :K. Allan's residence, "Eonaki"—in Ngatitarda street. The family had retifed at the: usual hoi r, when everytbin g. was' apparently safe.' Some tirda lster, Mrs Allan thought suo ■■ detected tbe smell of smoke, and called out to the occupant of the adjoiinog room who, however, had not noticed nnythiug, unusual. A few minutes later, about; half past eleveD, flames broke out. appearing, to proceed from a room used as a nursery. The fire spread with such amazing rapidity that the i ccupanis of the bouse had the gri at* st difficulty in . effecting .an oxit, and did so clad only in their night attire. Mrs Allan, who was suffering greatly from sheck, reached the balcony, -from which she was assisted to tha ground.. Miss Allan "was slightly burned about the hands,and Mr Allan, junior, also recived minor injuries. Mr Allan is at present in "Wellington, having left Nelson last evening. :

The rapidity with which the flames enveloped the building, and the scarcity of assistance at the outset; made it impossible to -save much of the contents.. The piano and a few articles of., furniture were got out, but the rest of the effects, including oue of the finest collections of South Sea Island, ourio? in New Zealand, were entirely, deptroyed. Mr Allan took a justifiable pride in his museum, which represented many years' devotion to the bobby, aud the loss will be a very serious onp. „:'■:■' r . '

There was some difficulty, it is stated, in communicating with tbe Ueotral bite Brig^do Station by telephone, and the tire had bean in progress for some time bwfore an alarm was; sounded •by tue bells. The Brigade, under Captain Woodward, when apprised of tbe outbreak, proceeded with _all s haste to the scene. Before tbo Brigade reaobfld the lire, liowoVßr. owing to tbe distance it had to travel, and the antiqustftd menns of locomotion in vogue, the building was practicslly destroyed. It was found, too, that- the water supply in that part of the town, was even less effective than it has proved at recent firea at the Port and ilsewhere. A mere trickle fiom the nozzle, and the firemen were powerless even to subdue the^embers uotil the last beam had fallen and tne Jinnies had almost,' burnt -them- ' solves out. ' A n effort was made to protect the beautiful native bush surrounding the hou3e, but this 'was sadly injured by the beat and small fires which broka out among the trees. " ' ; ; '

Last night's -fire- emphasised the lesson conveyed by 'other serious losses, .that the city water supply in its present state is absolutely useless for tire prevention purposes overtho greater part of the town, and tbafc the appliances of the Fire Brigade are'tctally inadequate. .-,/: "Konaki" was a fourteen or fif-ten-roomed bouse, and was built by, tbe late' Judge Broad, who occupied it till the time of fiiß diatb. Owing to jbe lateness of 'the hour it was impossible to ascertain details of tbo insurances. Both building and contents were covered, but the loss will be greatly in excess of the insurances.