FIRE AT HORAHORA

Waikato Independent, Volume XXX, Issue 3203, 25 February 1930, Page 4

FIRE AT HORAHORA

MR. J. BANKS' RESIDENCE TWO ROOMS DAMAGED About 6.45 on Saturday evening an outbreak of fire at Mr. and Mrs. J. Banks' residence, Hora Hora, caused considerable damage to two rooms, and had it not been for the prompt action of two sharemilkefs it is certain that the entire residence would have been destroyed. It appears that Mr. and Mrs. Banks were away at Taotaoroa on Saturday afternoon, the only remaining persons on the farm being Messrs. Alfilling and R. Thompson, employees of Mr. Banks. They were in the house about four p.m. when everything appeared to be in usual order. About the time that the two men were completing milking one of them observed smoke issuing from the house and a rush was made from the milking shed, which was about three chains away. With the aid of two Maoris, a bucket brigade was promptly at work, and with such effect, that what looked a hopeless task at the outset, eventually resulted in the fire being extinguished, but not before the kitchen and a living room had been badly gutted. The dwelling was a five-roomed one with bathroom and conveniences. The cause of the outbreak was probably due to the current of an -electric iron having been left on. The appearance of the gutted rooms shows that the fire fighters ar<? deserving of commendation for the task they tackled, and as the owner said to an Independent representative: "Seeing the way the two rooms are gutted, I cannot understand how they managed to get tba fire under control.'

The house was insured.in the British Dominions Office.