FIRES.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9814, 25 August 1897, Page 6

FIRES.

TIMARU HIGH SCHOOL DESTROYED.

The Timaru High School buildings, a massive brick structure, which cost over £5000, were practically destroyed by fire yesterday morning. The two main rooms and three class rooms at one end were burned out and three rooms at the other end have the roof burned off. The fire started iv one of the class rooms, probably from the fireplace, the custom being to lay the fires overnight in the warm grates. The fire was observed at 6 a.m., when it had a good hold, nnd spread undor the roof, where the Brigade could not get to it. The neighbours saved nearly all the furniture and the other contents of the school. It is only four days from the end of the term, and the scholars have been dismissed till a temporary arrangement is made. Later. Owing to the building being well outside the borough boundaries, the, Brigade had a very poor water supply, working from a dead end, which did not carry pressure enough to throw the water over the walls. Eventually a hose was got out on the roof, and a hole being made water was poured on the burning mass, and succeeded in saving the eastern classroom, though the roof fell before this. The rooms below are undamaged, except by water. The other parts of the school are totally destroyed, namely, the museum, the main schoolroom and the western classrooms. The heat being so great as to destroy most of the plaster and burn the dado and battens out of the western wall, it is very dangerous, as it is cracked in many places, and a strong wind would level it to the ground. The damage is estimated at about £3000, and it will be on to the new year before the new buildings are ready. The building destroyed was erected in the latter part of 1879, and the School of Art in 1890. Though the fire was not discovered till 6 a.m., many persons saw I smoke hours before; but the trees around prevented it being seeu whether the smoke j was issuing from the building elsewhere than from the chimney. Mr Hogben, the master, ! loses a number of valuable scientific MSS, and Miss McLean, the mistress, valuable books. Some articles belonging to girl pupils were destroyed or damaged. The insurances are £2350 each in the Koyal and Imperial Offices.

The boot shop of Mr S. E. Neate, Colombo street North, narrowly escaped destruction by fire yesterday afternoon. Mr Neate was boiling so-ne material for use in his business, when it took fire, which communicated with the scrim of the wall and a door screen. Mr Neate, however, managed to extinguish the fire before the chemical engine, which was promptly out, had reached the shop. The damage done was slight, and will be covered by the insurance. The property belongs to the Church Property Trustees. The stock and plant are insured in the Manchester office for £50.