THE CHRISTCHURCH FIRE

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 118, 11 February 1908, Page 9

THE CHRISTCHURCH FIRE

RE-BUILDINC OPERATIONS. (IJY TEWMIUNI— Sl'KCI.a COImiiSrONDKNT.) Christchurch, February 10. Negotiations for tho re-building operations have been opened in several instances, but it will' lv> some timu bel'oro any definite plans are prepared. 'J'hcro is 110 doubt, however, that ultimately the appearance of tho city will bo 'improved as a result of the fire. The land covered by the tiro has increased enormously in value during recent years, and owners will take the opportunity to secure the. maximum return from tlio land available. This will mean larger buildings in several eases. Workmen commenced to demolish the front wall of Ashby,' Bergli's yosterday afternoon, and the proceedings afforded .much interest to a crowd-.of spectators. The falling brickwork badly bent the two new metallic circuit, cables which had just been repaired by tho telephono department, 'aiid severed from fifteen to twenty single telephono wires, causing them to sag almost to tho ground for some distance along tlio. street. It is proposed to pull tho rest of tho wall down. ' ' ■ IMPROVED METHODS OF BUILDING.

■In reply to ii 'question'' as to whether, 'in his opinion, improved ipethods of building construction' would have limited tho area of tho fii'o, JVlr. .J. J). Hall (chairman of'tho Firo Hoard) .said that, on his motion,- a by-law had been recently drafted and referred to tho By-laws Committee of the City Council giving tho Council control of tho, internal arrangements of all new buildings' erected within its jurisdiction.,. At present,tho Council could only control the position of tho frontage of a building and enforce tho erection of proper fire escapes); but it was sought to obtain tlio power to prevent'the construction of buildings in which a free and uninterrupted draught; was possiblo from cellar to. roof.. It was particularly desired to prohibit tho construction of- open 'lift- wells and light- wells, which acted "like largo chimneys ,and supplied; tho , flames;- with strong blasts of air. It should bo possible,' ho thought,. to:havo some device whereby a sort, of lid should: bo; shut down over: theso wells beforo - people Jeft the building each day.. Attention would, also bo paid,- should there-: gulatiou .be added to tho city, by-laws, to the .prevention.;,of internal constructions of a highly inflammable nature':-'..-Tlio Mayor, told a reporter. Jhat ho thought tho. by-law dealjug' with tho internal construction- of buildings would bo carried by the Council. In tho course of conversation i a leading' architect informed a reporter that tho walls liiid stono front of .the White-Hart building would be used in re-construotion operations: Practically, the : wliolo of what remained of the other premises. would have to come down The brickwork had como through tho ordeal splendidly, save where,. •it supported iron girders, these throwing the walls ...out- of piumb, and ■ rendering them very unsafe. There were plenty of carpenters now available, ■ but - bricklayers and plasterers' were scarce. Howoyer, with, tho prospect,of long jobs 1 before them > -operatives'of \t-hcso two latter, classes would probably be attracted to tlio city. , - ... ■... : ;■ . INSURANCES. ' ; The following ,is a complete list', of tlio United Insurance •Company's linos -affected by t-h'o recent fire in Christchurch: — , R. Malcolm and Company^'£l4,Boo; Hayman's, £2000; D.1.0., £500; Anglo Cycle Company, £175; Mrs. Maine (re-insurance), .-6250; Heath , and Company , (re-insurance), £500; Strangb'aud Company, £500.' . • '