Nelson premises gutted by fire

Press, 28 July 1986, Page 3

Nelson premises gutted by fire

Nelson reporter

An early-morning fire which swept through, the Nelson Operatic Society’s premises yesterday not only gutted the building but destroyed musical scores, costumes, lighting, and props of inestimable value. It was a desolate scene yesterday as society members mingled with Fire Service and police officers in the blackened and water-soaked ruins.

The president of the society, Mr Ross Benbow, estimated the replacement value of the building, in St Vincent Street, about $125,000. But, with a sweeping gesture of the hand indicating piles of waterlogged props and costumes, he asked what price could be put on a collection going back to 1958 and beyond? Among the most priceless or valuable items lost in the blaze were a photographic record of all society productions, some of them going back to 1919. All that remained of a Bechstein piano — among the society’s treasures — was the iron frame and wires. The Nelson Fire Service received a call to the fire at 1.25 a.m. and three units were sent to a blaze already well established. Firemen were able to contain the fire mainly to the southern wall and interior, an area where there was little danger of the blaze spreading. Immediately to the south of the building is a dump for car bodies stripped down by Auto Parts, Ltd. To the north an old house which in the past has been inhabited and vandalised by street kids and others was untouched.

The police were called to the burnt-out premises yesterday and with Fire Service staff examined the Interior for signs of

arson. The Fire Service later reported that the fire’s cause was “undetermined.”

The society on Saturday held a garage sale at the premises, but all members were reported

to have left by 1.30 p.m. The building and its contents were Insured but the society is still expected to be a heavy loser. Fortunately, said Mr Benbow, it was not engaged in a production as it normally was at this

time of the year. The building -itself was formerly used as a barracks for Army personnel at Nelson Airport during World War IL It was shifted to St Vincent Street and used as a store or for manu-

factoring until sold to the society about 1980. About two years later the society built a twostorey concrete block extension on the northern side. This area was not so badly damaged in the fire.