FIRE AND SUICIDE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2577, 4 February 1910, Page 3

FIRE AND SUICIDE.

STATION KITCHEN BURNED AND COOK HANGS HIMSELF.

TP]® Press Association.] ROTOR UA, Feb. 3. Word was received this morning that the kitchen and men’s dining rooms at Galatea station -were totally destroyed by fire at 11 o’clock last night. The fire was discovered by one of the station hands, named McGill, who roused the other .men, but the flames had then complete possession of the building, and the efforts of the men wore directed towards saving the homestead, which they succeeded in doing, although the building was separated from that destroyed by only a few feet. During the progress of the fire the water gave -out. Part of the homestead was. Scorched, and all the contents of the kitchen were totally destroyed. Some of the men were burned about the feet, and lost a portion of their hair. Search was made for the cook last night, but he could not be found. This morning, however, he wa,s found Hanging in a small building at the rear of the kitchen. He had evidently tied a piece of sash cord round his neck, stood on a table, and jumped off. He was quite dead when found. No cause can be assigned for the act. The cook was named James Evans, and had been at the station about six weeks. He. came from Napier, where he had been on a station as cook for four years. Fie was a good-tempered man, aged about GO •years. .Sergeant Carroll and Mr. TU Lundon, Justice of the Peace, left here this morning at 11 o’clock, and an inquest and inquiry will he held to-night.