Fire at North Gisborne.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume V, Issue 670, 10 October 1891, Page 2

Fire at North Gisborne.

Jost after 2.3olve«terday morning a fire broke out in the new house nearly aompleted fot Mt Jovee, at North Gisborne. The alarm wa. rung on the big bell, and the Brigade were soon on the scene, but could do little to prevent the destruction of the house, which was burnt to th. ground. The house wa. being erected by Mr Robb, builder, the work being under Mt H. Reed. The house was all but oompleted, and would have been given over in a few day.. There had been no fire lighted la it on Thursday, and it wa« not thought that any of those employed about it had been smoking. The contractor had a builder', risk of £250 in the Standard office, and ths original contract was £285, or practically with extra., £.300, leaving the contractor at a considerable 10... Mr Robb «ay. there i. no way ot accounting for the fire by accident of any kind, and all the circumstance, point to incendiarism, for which the only cause that oan be suggested is illwill against owner, builder, or someone. The carpenters lost all their tools in the flames, and Mr Joyoo stands to lose the cost of the fixings that had been put into the house apart from the contract. The alarm of fire wa. rung by the nightwatchman, Mr Humphries, who first observed a light, and went towards the river to discover the cause. At first it appeared like a strong lamplight behind a yellow blind, but while he was watching it for a few moments flames shot out from the sides, the bright streaks beiog almost simultaneous. Then he immediately ran up to ring the A gentleman returning from the steams, passed the house about 1 a.m,, when there was no sign of fire.