A SERIOUS FIRE.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 122, 24 May 1909, Page 3

A SERIOUS FIRE.

DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT £3,500. A big glare in the sky in the direo- . tion ot Ml. Eden, on Saturday night, , attracted the attention of the home-ward-bound crowds, and it was soon found that an extensive conflagration wae in progress in Messrs. Henderson and Polkrd's joinery factory, in Edenstreet. The wind wae blowing strongly '. from the and heavy rain was ' falling. ■ .' The alarm was given shortly after 10.30 p.m., and the Alt. Eden Volunteer J Fire Brigade, under Captain Williams, soon had five leads of hose playing on the burning building. The wind prevented the flames from igniting the Kauri Timber Company's premise*., which are situated at the rear, but the blaze spread to an adjoin-, ing cottage, owned by Messrs. Winstone and Co., and occupied by ilr. VV. Morland. The. factory, which was wrappedin sheets of flame, was practically destroy-* ed, and the cottage was gutted, though most of the furniture was saved. As the hour grew later, the wind dropped, and the firemen were able to prevent any additional conflagration. At an early hour on Sunday morning the tlamc<i were finally subdued. It is not quite cleat hew the outbreak originated, but it is supposed to have J been caused by the gas engine at the rear o£ the factory. At their last stocktaking, Messrs. Henderson and Pollard"* building, stock, and machinery, were valued at £3,000, and this is injured for £1,800 in the Standard Office. The cottage was a five-roomed one, valued at about £300. FIRE ON A LAUXCa One of the firemen stationed on the Queen-street wharf discovered a fire this morning on tlfe launch Maratea. owned by lioJmPs Bros. The alarm was given to the City Brigade, and the No. 1 reel was soon on the scene. The flames had evidently originated among some sails stowed aft, hut the firemen were able to extinguish the blaze before the ve3sel had sustained any extensive damage.