About two o'clock on Saturday morning, a fire was discovered in a row of six thatched cottages, at Whitecross, which were eventually burnt to the ground. The fire appears have originated in the house occupied by a Mrs. Pomeroy and her children, whose husband has recently left for Wales, where she was to follow next week. Three of the cottages belong to Mr Tucker, miller, Netherbury, and three to Mrs. Sprake, who is 84 years of age and lives in the row. It would seem that at midnight all the inhabitants were at rest, and not a light was to be seen, but at two o’clock on Saturday morning, the whole of the six cottages were ablaze. The conflagration had nearly a tragic ending, the old lady, Mrs. Sprake, would undoubtedly have been burnt to death in her bed had not her son given the alarm on hearing from outside and run to her rescue. The local police and nearly all the village of Netherbury turned out to look on and help in putting out the flames. The worthy vicar, the Rev. W. Gildea, was among the helpers and worked as hard, or harder, than anybody in getting the people out and saving as many of the effects in the house as he could. The origin of the fire is a mystery, and we understand the buildings and furniture are insured.