FIRES IN NELSON PROVINCE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 932, 13 November 1869, Page 3

FIRES IN NELSON PROVINCE.

FATAL FIRE ON THE BEACH. AN OLD WOMAN BURNED TO DEATH. Shortly before 10 o'clook, on the 4th November, Mr. Lowe, the second pilot, while near the old Custom-house, observed a glare of Ore, Apparently about the direction of the cottage ocoapied by an infirm old woman, named Margaret Herdman, better known as " Old Margaret." He gave the alarm, and ran up to get the hose from the lock-up station, and also got a line of men to hand backets from the tide-way, the tide being full at the time. The fire, however, had too firm a hold on the house, and although efforts were made by Mr. Morrison to get into the house, it was found impossible to render any assistance to the aged occapant, whose remains, frightfully burned and charred, with the bowels partly protuding, and with one lower limb burned off to the middle of the thigh, were shortly after found among the smokiug ruins. After the fire had been subdued, search was made for the old woman, and her body was found lying on the partially consumed mattrass, and exhibiting a most ghastly spectacle. Some years ago Margaret broke her left thigh-bone, and it would appear that the limb had parted at the old break. The cause of

the fire is not far to seek. Little more than a quarter of an hour before Mr. Lowe saw the fire, she had been visited by Mrs. Morrison, — who used to look after her and see her to bed as often as she would allow her — for the poor old creature was exceedingly positive and wilful. She found her partially undressed lying on the bed ; she would not accept any assistance, and after a little time, and placing the candle on tho middle of the table, Mrs. Morrison left the house. It is supposed that Margaret had got up, or attempted to get up, soon afterwards, and probably overturned the candle and set*, fire to her bed-curtains, as there was no doubt that the fire originated in the bedroom. Margaret Herdraan, a native of Fifoshire, in Scotland, was about eighty years of age, and was one of the oldest settlers, as well as the oldest woman in the Province, and was muoh cared for aud assisted by numbers of benevolent people, to whom her sad end will cause much regret. — Colonist.

Fire atWaimea Soutit.— A fire occurred early, in the morning of the 2nd November at Spring Grove, which resulted in the destruction of the flour mills, dwelling-house, and out buildings, belonging to Mr. W. White. It is stated that the various buildings were all on fire at the same time, although the house was situated at more than a hundred yards from the mill. The mill was insured for £1,000 in the Liverpool and London and Globe Office. An inquest on the occurrence will bo held at Spring Grovo to-day.

FniE at Charleston,— West Coast.— A fire arose at Charleston, on 3rd November at ten o'clock which was caused by the bursting of a kerosine lamp at the Commercial Hotel, Princes-street. Eight houses wers consumed, and £1,500 worth of property was destroyed. No lives wore lost but two persons narrowly escaped death. Immediately after the fire, a subscription list was opened on behoof of the sufferers, and £100 was subscribed on the spot.