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Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7821, 14 June 1909, Page 3

This morning residents of Ha-mp-stead were awakened from sleep at an early hour by prolonged and repeated shrieks from a traction engine's whistle. What object the engine-driver had in view it is difficult to imagine. Perhaps he wished to arouse somo of the. hands who had overslept themselves, or he may have thought it a good joke to disturb tho whole neighbourhood. The shriek of the whistle was so like- the alarm sounded by the railway engine when fires occur that many were misled and hastened to doors and windows to find that no fire was visible. The railway engine-drivers have often done good service in the past by giving the first intimation of a fire, and it would bo a pity if the alarm given by them should be so simulated as to lead to misinterpretation.