SPECTACULAR BLAZE SEEN IN AUCKLAND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19201, 15 October 1930, Page 7

SPECTACULAR BLAZE SEEN IN AUCKLAND.

YOUNG CHILDREN HAD A NARROW ESCAPE.

(Special to the “Star.”) AUCKLAND, October 15. Fire destroyed two houses and damaged a third in a spectacular blaze in Melford Street. Ponsonby, early this morning. At 1.15 a.m. two unoccupied two-storeyed wooden structures were burning fiercely and the flames had caught an adjoining residence. The flames shot 50ft to 60ft into the air and large pieces of timber were thrown in all directions. As the walls of the houses collapsed, vast showers of sparks fell on to adjoining premises, the occupants of which were alarmed at the danger of the flames spreading. The owner of one of the damaged houses was Mrs Bennet, of St Mary’s Road, Ponsonby. The house was occupied by Mr Owen Rabbidge. Mrs Rabbidge was asleep in a front room on the side of the house nearest to the fire when she was awakened by some girls who were returning from a dance beating on her window. Mr and Mrs Rabbidge’s family consisted of three children under four years. When the father and mother rushed to the back room (in the top flat of the occupied house) flames were licking along the plaster boards and the room had filled with choking smoke before the children were snatched from the bed. Mr and Mrs Rabbidge had previously warned the occupants of the bottom fiat.