ROMAN CATHOLIC ORPHANAGE ABLAZE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 3943, 28 May 1913, Page 7

ROMAN CATHOLIC ORPHANAGE ABLAZE.

SPLENDID DISCIPLINE MAINTAINED. ALL THE CHILDREN SAVED. s.; r BY TELEGRAPH SPECIAL CUIiRESPOOTENT] AUCKLAND, May 27. There were two Sisters visiting tho Star of the Sea Roman Catholic Orphanage for girls at Lako Takapuna last night, and to mako room for them ono of tho staff slept downstairs. But for this apparently trifling circumstance there might havo been a tragedy to record. Tlie big two-storey building, which is situated about half-way between the lake and Northcote, was levelled to the ground this morning just before daybreak, and tho children escaped in their nightdresses. Some of the little ones did not wake u pun til they found themselves being carried out in tho -arms of the elder girls. Within an hour the wooden building was a heap of smoking ashes —all that remained of about £SOOO worth of property. At about half-past five (it was dark) one of the staff was awakened by a crackling sound, and discovered the wall ablaze near the ceiling. She raised the alarm and rushed upstairs to the dormitory where the children and several of the sisters were sleeping. .Fortunately the children sleep in two large dormitories. Had they been quartered, in cubicles there is no telling what might have happened, as the building went so rapidly. The discipline must be excellent, as in less time than it takes to write the fact the 00 odd children were marshalled and marching downstairs out of tho doomed building. Each of the elder girls quickly picked up a younger inmate and some of the little ones did not realise what was the matter - until they were outside in the keen morning air. . _ There were three staircases, hut they all apparently led inside tho building so that had the fire got a greater hold the retreat might have been a much more difficult matter. The children wore in bed when the lire was discovered, and they had to inarch out as they were in their night dresses, but Siste'r Dolores and others thoughtfully threw a number of blankets out of" the windows for tho little ones.

Just enough garments to clothe the children were saved, the rest of the inmates’ belongings being consumed. The fire brigade arrived on the scene ag promptly as possible after being called up, but tho place was practically gone when they got there. The spot is a lonely ono. and unless the fire appliances on the premises were sufficient to cope with such a contingency there would, not be much chance of help arriving in time to do anything. It is to Ire hoped that when the Orphanage is erected it will be built of brick. The risk of housing children in a wooden structure in such an out-of-the-way locality is too great. It-"is only about .a year , since the building was re-erected on its present site and about £3OOO was spent on the work. The place was in very fine order and the furniture was practically all new. Tlie loss to tlie Church will probably be about £SOOO. The building was insured in the South British Insurance Company for the sum of £ISOO, and the contents were the subject of a separate policy for £SOO.