HOMESTEAD BURNED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20222, 5 February 1934, Page 5

HOMESTEAD BURNED.

Domett Farmer’s Heavy Loss. CAUSE OF FIRE A MYSTERY. An outbreak of fire at six o’clock on Saturday evening destroyed the homestead owned and occupied by Mr E. S. j Miller, Domett. The house was a wooden building containing six rooms, and bathroom, scullery, pantry and dairy, all under one roof. The origin of the fire is a mystery, as no fire had been alight in the house since ten o’clock in the morning. Mr Miller had been working at the baclf of his farm during the day and Mrs Miller and the children had taken lunch out to him. The family returned to the house about 4 p.m. and remained there until 5.30 p.m.. when Mr Miller, j taking the two boys with him, went to j dig some potatoes a few hundred yards from the house. Mrs Miller went to a nearby paddock to collect mushrooms. The fire was at first noticed by Mrs Miller, who called to her husband, but by the time the house was reached, flames were shooting from every window, and it was impossible, owing to the intense heat, to approach within ten yards of the house. Neighbours were quickly on the scene to render assistance. but it was impossible to reach the house or to save anything. Within half an hour, the building was destroyed. The contents of the house were insured with the Victoria Insurance Comj pany, and the building was insured with the London and Lancaster Office. I Mr Miller and his family are heavy i losers, as all their belongings were de- * stroyed.