FIRE AT DUNEDIN.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 130, 25 February 1908, Page 7

FIRE AT DUNEDIN.

AERATED WATER FACTORY ABLAZE. DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT OVER £2000. ' (BV MLEOnA'rH—PHEES ''association!)'" ; , Dunedin, February 24. -A / serious outbreak ;of tiro occurred'in Thomson and 'Co.'a aerated water factory; in. ■Crawford Street this afternoon. ,Tlio fire was discovered almost in; tho raiddlo'; of ' tho. top story',! and. whero are stored a largo'quantity of corks,'- disused' machinery, packing, and other contents. Tho flames-had a strong hold !wlion-.discovered,'and spread with almost incredible rapidity over the inflammable material at hand,, ami when 'the .brigade arrived a.few' minutes later tho wholo'floor was ablaze. Tho building stands up by itself from amongst one story ercctjons, and there is only ono steep,., narrow stairway giving access; to tho- uppor 'portions';'''lt .was-too high to send a stream of Water; to the 'seat of tho street,: th6ugh this was essayed, and so great a hold had the flames secured that tho firemon were beaten back from tho stair. A ladder was hastily laid up tho front of tbo building; and an intrepid fire-fighter (Conway) climbed up. this with a hose, and, in. tho teeth of; tho flames', i directed.; a stream .of water through: tlio,window. •; This ■'was only partly effective,' and tho ladder had,to bo shifted to the adjoining window. "Up to this Firemen Williams and Conway' clambSred]" dragging • a hoav.v -hose, ahd'i succeeded in gottingVa strong'.■■'flow' of •water into tho middfeof tho,roaring funiaco 'within.'; '...-■■■ It is estimated that the damage exceeds £2000. " , .■ Tho insurances are; distributed, among the Atlas; 'Standard, Liverpool,; London and Globe, Now Zealand, South, British, Victoria, National, Commercial Union, Alliance, lto.yai,, Australian- Alliance, and Phcenix companies.,' On tho warehouse, cordial department, and office, tho, section, affected, the/total is £3250;. on tho stock, £3800; on the niachihory, £750; on itlio fittings, etc., £200.- The factory adjoining; is insured .for, £1000,. its stock for £400,'. and machinery for £1000. ; Tho fire is supposed to havo been caused by a defectivo chimney.