FIRES.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12405, 21 November 1908, Page 6 (Supplement)

FIRES.

"■ ' ' » . — - . • . DESTRUCTION OF "RONAKI." A SERIOUS LOSS. (■" The Colonist," Nov. 13.) The tire fiend claimed last night one of Nelson's most beautiful homes — Mr K. Allan's residence, "Ronaki"—in Ngatitama street. The family bad retired at the usual, hoi r, wbett everythin g was apparently safe.. Some tinia later, Mrs Allan .thought she detected the smell of auioke,. and called out to the occupant oi; the adjoining room who, however, nad not noticed anything unusual. A fen minuteslater, about half past eleven, flames broke out, appearing to procead from a room used as a nursery. The fire spread with such amazing rapidity that the occupants of the House had the greatest difficulty in effecting an exit, and did so clad only in their night attire. Mrs Allan, who was suffering greatly from check, reached the balcony, from which she was assisted to the ground. Miss Allan j was slightly burned about the bands, and Mr Allan, junior, also recived minor injuries. Mr Allan is at present in Wellington, having left Nelson last even ing. . 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 one of the n^est collections ofSouth Sea Island curios in New Zealand, were entirely destroyed. Mr Allan took a justifiable pride m his museum, which lepresentad many years' devotion to the hobby, and the loss will be a very serious one. . There was some difficulty, it is stated, in communicating with the Central Fire Brigade Station.by telephone, and the fire had been in progress for. some time before an alarm was sounded by the bells. The Brigade, under Captain Woodward, when apprised of tho outbreak, proceeded with all baste to the scene. Before the Brigade reached the .fire, however, owing to the distance it had to travel, and the antiquated means of locomotion in vogue, the building was practically destroyed. It was found, too, tbat the water supply in that part of the town was even less effective than it has proved at recent fires at the Port ana elsewhere. A mere trickle from the nozzle, and the " firemen were ..powerless even to subdue the embers until the last beam had fallen and the flames had .almost burnt themselves out. An effort was made to protect the beautiful native bush surrounding the bouse, but this was sadly injured by the heat and small fires which broke out among the trees. Last night's fire emphasised the lesson conveyed by other serious losses, that the city water supply io its present state is absolutely, usaless for tire prevention purposes over the greater part of the town, and' that the appliances of the Fire Brigade are totally inadequate. "Ronaki" was a fourteen or fiften•roomed house, and was built by the late Judge Broad, who occupied it till the time of nis daath. OwiDg to cbe lateness of the hour it was impossible to ascertain details of the insurances. Both building, and contents were covered, but the loss will be greatly in excess .of the insurances. It was ascertained j-esterday morning that the insurances on Mr R. Allan's fine residence "Ronaki," which was destroyed by fire late on Thursday night, are as follows: — House, £1000 National Insurance Co. ; furniture, £400, conservatory, £60, curios, £20, Liverpool and London and Globe Insurance Co. 1