ANOTHER FIRE IN TEMUKA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 5591, 12 November 1907, Page 2

ANOTHER FIRE IN TEMUKA.

——<fc At an early hour yesterday morning another lire was added to tho list of mysterious fires that have occurred in Temuka during the past twelve montns, when the four-roomed residence of Mr Z. Kay, in Hornbrbok Street, was totally destroyed by fire. Mr Kay left for Wellington on Saturday last, and at the time the lire broke out, between four and five o'clock, there were in the house Mrs Kay and three children (one an infant) and Mrs Kay's sister, Miss King. Mrs Kay states that she was awakened by the baby, and was go'ng to attend to it when she noticed that '' the room was full of smoke. "She at once awoke the children and her sis» tcr, and they got out of the houS'e as quickly as they could. Mrs—Ray caught up a few clothes for herself and the children, but Miss King had only her night attire, the room in which she was sleeping being all ablaze when the alarm was given. The alarm was at once given to the neighbours, and the lirst on the scene was Mr J. ' Boulter and his sons Charles and Harry. Mr Boulter went round to tho back, and made an attempt to extinguish the lire. To him it appeared that the fire had broken out in the little porch at the back of tho kitc'ien and he thinks that had he plenty of water at ids command he might have mastered the However, he soon found out that he was beaten. Meanwhile Messrs Gharles and Harry Boulter got into tho front rooms and saved the piano, some chairs, and a few other things, but everything in the two other rooms was destroyed- Others arrived too late tp save avything, as the lire spread very rapidly. Tho house was an old one of wood, and I (he lire lasted a very short time. A detached wash-houso was also destroyed. It was fortunate that what wind there was was from the south, as Mr Boulter's house, on the south side, was only xybout thirty feet away. Wet blankets were hung over the windows, and practically no damage was done to this house. Tho origin of tho fire is a mystery. There was no lire in tho kitchen range after tea, and the whole of the family were in bed about eight o'clock, everything appearing to be practically safo when they retired. Ail the insurances were in the London, Liverpool and Globe Office, tho house- being covered, for [;Cl'2s, the furniture for £?5, tho piano for. £3O.