FIRES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 93, 23 April 1891, Page 6

FIRES.

A fire occurred at Hartley's sawmill at Wairero, Kohukohu.on April 2. Tho engine and boiler were burnt. The insurance is £300.

Laird's Commorcial Hotel, Wanganui,was destroyed by fire at one a.m. on Sunday, April 19. The inmates had a narrow escape. Francis Kenny, employed at the hotel, was arrested on suspicion. Kenny was charged ab the Police Court next morning with having set fire to tho hotol, and was remanded for eight days.

A flaxmill situated at Runciman was destroyed by fire on the 30th March. Ib was the property of Mr John Cranvrell, and he estimates his loss at £200, as he was uninsured. Two of Mr Cranwell's sons were in tho mill at 12 o'clock the same day, and at that time no fire was noticed. About 1 o'clock two young men wore seen walking towards the mill, and it is stated they were smoking cigarettes. About two o'clock the mill was discovered on fire, and all attempts to save it were futile.

On Friday night, April 3,oneof the Tramway Company's cars was burnt and totally destroyed at Epsom. The cur had been run on a siding at five minutes to twelve. Shortly afterwards a passing milkman saw ib ablaze. The night stableman and watchman rushed oub, but could nob save ib. Ib U bhought that the lamp of the car had exploded and set fire to the American pine of which the car is made. The damage is fully covered by insurance in the New Zealand Fire Insurance Office.

The largest and most disastrous fire that ever occurred in Palmerston North took place early on April 11th. The fire originated in Regan's twelve-roomed boardinghouse, and spread onbothsidee to J. R. Montague's auction rooms, occupiedbytheowner, and the Native Land Court; J. Sorrell's furniture warehouse, occupied by the owner and E. B. Pearce, commission agent-; J. H. Hankin's buildings, occupied by Wright and Co., grocers ; L. B. Clark, draper ; J. H. Hankin's, solicitor ; and T. H. James, architect. The insurances are:—Montague's premises, £350 on the building ; £150 on the stock ; estimated loss, £500; Sorrell's, £300 on the building; stock, uninsured. Pearce waR uninsured. His estimated loss is £500. Hankin's buildings, £550 on the building, Hankin's furniture and books £200; Wright's and Co.'c stock, £500 ; Clarke uninsured, James uninsured.

A destructive fire occurred at Blenheim on April 16, resulting in the destruction of the "Marlborough Times" office, Card's (bookseller's), Sherwood's (fruiterer's), and Howard's (cabinet-maker's) business premises. The firemen had a hard fight with the flames. The following are the insurances:—> (" Tiffies "): £200 in the Royal, £200 in the North German; estimated loss above this, £1000. Jloward; Sbock, £350 in the London and Lancashire; estimated lobs, £500. Hustwick: £200 on stock in the North German. Mrs Sherwood, £100 in the London and Lancashire. Smale and Hay: Stock, £500 in the New Zealand, £500 in the National, £500 in the Standard, £250 in the North German, £250 in the Phcenix; buildings, £300 in the North German.

On April 20bh an official inquiry waß held to inquire into the circumstances attending the firing of the American ship Leading Wind, now of Auckland, which was partially burnt and then scuttled in Auckland harbour in January last, while loading for New York. Detective Kirby represented the police. Major Gascoigne, Sheriff of Auckland, was also present. The jury returned the following open verdict :— "That in accordance with the evidence the ship Leading Wind was found to be on fire on the 22nd January last, and there ia no evidence to show how the fire originated." A rider was added, which stated : "There being such a diversity of opinion as to spontaneous combustion in flax, either well or badly dreesed, that it devolves on the Government to take the matter in hand, and provo by practical testa whether such exieta or not."