FIRES.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13546, 6 October 1909, Page 8

FIRES.

OUTBREAK AT RICHMOND

A fire, at about five o'clock yesterday morning, destroyed a fire-roomed house I on Fitzgerald avenue, Richmond, owned by Mr Stamlery a fish merchant, and occupied by Mr John A- Hunt. Mr Hunt, who works at Lyttelton, arose about five o'clock, put the kettle on the gas ring in the kitchen, and went outside. Presently one of his children rushed outside calling out that the house was on fire. Mr Hunt went inside, immediately, and discovered tho kitchen was ablaze. He attempted to quellthe flames, but his efforts were hopeless. He has six young children, and .he iust managed to save them in their night clothes. Mrs Hunt was away on a holiday at the time. The house was a very old one, and together with ltd contents waa totally destroyed. The insurance on ohe house is £160 in the New Zealand office. . Mr Hunt's furniture is insured for £50 in the London and Lancashire office, but Mr Hunt estimates his loss at, twice -that amount.

At 1.15 a.m. yesterday, a fire was discovered in a four-roomed cottage at the corner of Bush and Charles streets, Rangiora. The bouse belonged to Mr H. Blackett, and had been untenanted for some time. Owing to the building being nearly destroyed when the alarm was given, and not being a danger to other premises, the brigade did not take their plant out. There is an insurance of £75 on the house in the, Norwich Union office. The origin of the fire is unknown, and it is supposed to be a case of incendiarism.

An incipient fire was discovered in a recess under a staircase in Bowron Brothers' buildings, about ten o'clock last night. Some employees of Messrs Bowron Brothere who were at work became awaTe of a strong odour of smoke, and located the source under the staircase on the Manchester street front of the building. The recess was used jointly by Mr W. J. M. Hopkins, land and estate agent and sharebroker, and Mr R. O. Duncan, land and estate agent, as a coal box, and the outbreak is supposed to have been due to the presence of some unextinguished ashes. The alarm was given by telephone, and the Lichfield street motor -chemical and a horse chemical were soon on the spot and had the outbreak . under before much damage was done. The fire was confined to the recess under the staircase. (press association telegram.) FEILDLNG. October 5. A big fire, attended with fatal results, occurred here between one and two o'clock this morning. Eastie'a Feilding Hotel, a brick building, built four years ago at a cost of £8000, was gutted, leaving only the walls standing. The fire started in an unoccupied bedroom upstairs, and spread' through the roof and walls. The Fire Brigade, with a strong pressure of water, tried ;to confine the flames to the upstairs (portion. . Whilst holding a nozzle on the landing at the head of the stairs inside the building, Fireman l>. Williamson was instantaneously killed by a chimney collapsing and falling on him. Several other firemen, including Superintendent Saywell, were within a few feet of the spot. The insurances on the building are £3000 in the Commercial Union and £3000 in the Queensland Insurance Company; on the furniture and stock, £2800 in the Commercial Union.