DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 52, 10 April 1878, Page 2

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

A' most destructive fire, whicli narrowly escaped being attended with fatal results, broke out on' Saturday morning on the premises of Jlr Charles L. Wildbore, blacksmith, Ajv^huri. It appears thati at about three o'clock, Mr Wildbore was awakened by a choking sensation, and a feeling s of suffocation. ...It was sometime before Ije^could. "collect his scatjrered senses, ■.ohly-'^to' discover' that the place was in flames. 5 Such

progress had the fire made that it was with' difficulty he managed to save his child, for, in. the space of twenty minutes, the house was burned to the ground, nothing but a mass of charred and smoking sticks remaining. Mr Menzies, who lives next door, had thousands of shingles stacked, and those having taken fire; it appeared' at one time as if nothing cohld save them, or the dwelling-house adjoining; but while Mr Wors fold worked manfully at the burning shingles, and succeeded in arresting the progress of the fire, Mr C. .Schultze, of the Awahuri Hotel, broke open Menzies' house and removed the furniture to a safe' position, Mr and Mrs Menzie being from home at the time. We regret to learn that Mr Wildbore lost everything, with; the exception of one box of clothes, the house and furniture, estimated at about £300, being totally destroyed. We have been requested by Mr Menzies to thank Mr Schultze, and others, $ho s.» kindly and promptly rendered, ' assis. tance, and ,to whose efforts the preservation of his property is due.