£20,000 FIRE DAMAGE

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26515, 1 September 1951, Page 6

£20,000 FIRE DAMAGE

Furniture Factory Outbreak

BUILDING GUTTED Damage estimated at about £20,000 was done when fire gutted the factory of the Hamilton Furniture Manufacturing Company. Ltd., at the rear of the premises of J. M. Mitchell, Ltd., on the corner of Bath and Colombo streets, Christchurch, last evening. Only the shell remains of the twostorey brick building estimated to be worth at least £lO,OOO. Stock and plant in the building, also worth about £lO.OOO, is thought to be a total loss.

The building was insured with the Northern Insurance Company, and the furniture and plant with Lloyd’s. The managing director of the Hamilton Furniture Manufacturing Company. Ltd. (Mr W. I. Hamilton), said last evening that he did not think that the insurance would completely cover his loss. He had on his premises more stock than he had ever previously had, including one order for the Canterbury Education Board worth more than £lOOO. The double-storey building, comprising cabinet-making and upholstery departments, is rented by the Hamilton Company, from J. M. Mitchell. Ltd., whose buildings have a presentday value of about £47,000. The factory extends about 40 vards back along Bath street at the rear of the warehouse and showrooms of Mitchell's. Although the fire got into'the woodwork in the roof of Mitchell’s, swift work .by the fire brigade prevented the (flitbreak from spreading into the top floor of the shop, filled with thousands of pounds worth of furniture and furnishing materials. In a small room adjacent to the spot where the fire threatened to enter the shop materials were alone valued at £lO.OOO. One of the managing directors of Mitchell’s (Mr J. M. Mitchell) personally complimented the superintendent of the brigade (Mr A. Morrison) on the excellent save. Alarm Given The alarm was given about 9.30 p.m. by Mr Tom Bennett, who lives behind the factory at 29 Bath street. Mr Bennett observed a glow through the factory windows facing Bath street. He called to" a young man standing outside the New City Hotel to telephone the brigade from the hotel, while he dashed along Colombo street to the nearest alarm.

A split second after he broke the glass. Mr Bennett said, he heard the shriek of the sirens on the fire engines, which were at the fire by the time he got back to Bath street. The building was then ablaze from end to end with flames shooting out of the roof. This was not Mr Bennett’s first experience of fire in this block, as a few years ago he and his wife had to remove all their belongings from their home when a fire broke out in the timber yard on the west side of the factory-. Units frorq all over the city, including New Brighton and Sumner, answered the brigade call, which was issued from the Central Station. These units reported to the Central Station and were directed to the fire as required, other units being held in reserve in case of other fires. In a matter of minutes there were nine units, including an extension ladder, at the scene, but not all these were brought into use. Eight leads of hose were led into the building from all sides. A wheel escape ladder and two 55ft ladders were used to get above the fire.

An hour after the outbreak, Superintendent Morrison told reporters that the fire was virtually out. When the alarm was given, Superintendent Morrison was attending a social function at Sumner,'at which the Sumner brigade was honouring a member who had given 50 years’ voluntary service. He came to the fire with the Sumner brigade, and his deputy commanded operations until his arrival. When he arrived, Superintendent Morrison said the “whole show was going.” He knew that there was little hope of saving the contents of the factory, and his chief concern was to prevent the fire from spreading into the adjoining premises. He said that only after a full survey it would be possible to assess the damage, and to ascertain the likely cause. Hundreds of people on their way home along Colombo street flocked to vantage points near the block to see the blaze, but a large squad of police kept them back, while traffic officers diverted traffic from the section of Colombo street opposite Mitchell’s, which was lined with fire-fighting vehicles, and covered by hoses. In Bath street residents and spectators who sheltered under verandas were occasionally deluged by water as trlgadesmen manoeuvred their hoses Buses and trams were held up for only short periods. After the fire Mr Hamilton said that furniture being made and stock in be worth about £6OOO. and machinery would probably be. worth another £4OOO. He did not think that insurance would compensate him for the total loss, but he will not know until to-day the full extent of the damage. Mr Hamilton commenced business about three years

Mr J. M. Mitcnell said last night that there were plans for rebuilding the factory. It was intended to build be.vond the factory, and to make that part of his shop The fire of several years ago, he sta [W timber yard when nock, which had been salvaged from Ballantyne s fire and was in a damp condition, ignited spontaneously. On that occasion no damage was done to the building