SPECTACULAR FIRE

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 94, 15 January 1926, Page 8

SPECTACULAR FIRE

CLEAN SWEEP OF WOOL SCOURING WORKS

FLAMES LEAP 200 FEET HIGH BOILER SHOT SKYWARDS By Telegraph—SPectai ConnEsPoxnE.NT Auckland, January 14. Onehunga residents were awakened from their slumbers between 3 and 3.30 this morning by a series of loud explosions, some of the reports being heard over a mile from their source. The cause was the biggest fire which has occurred in the district for the past ten years.

The result was the total destruction of Messrs. Wilson and Canham’s large wool scouring and fellmongery works, situated in Alfred Street. The damage is estimated at £30,000, a clean sweep having been made of the wood and iron premises, the machinery, and the wool and pelts which were being treated. Shortly after 3 a.m. the fire was observed by a milkman who was making his rounds. He endeavoured to get in touch with the fire station without result Constable W. E. Poll, who was on night dutv, was the first to give the alarm, and within a few minutes the Oneliunga brigade was on the scene. By this time, however, the flames had a good hold, the fire breaking out at eachend of the building as well as m the centre. Two big leads of hose were directed on the outbreak at a pressure of 1801 b. per square inch. From the outset the water pressure was splendid, but it was quicklv realised by Superintendent C. E. Gilbert that to endeavour to save the building was hopeless. The brigade’s attention was then directed to the trees and outhouses which surrounded the property. About a quarter of an hour subsequent to the brigade’s artival on the scene, several loud explosions occurred and flames leaped tin to a height of over 000 feet. One of the greatest explosions was when a boiler blew skywards. Phis and other reports were heard by residents living fully a mile away from the site of the blaze. Pieces of iron and machinery were hurled 70ft. . into the air, and scattered in all directions. Spectacular Incidents. Eve-witnesses who had assembled on the'rise at the Post Office at the back of the railway station and at the junction of Prince’s Street and Queen Street, Onehunga, state that the fire was a most spectacular one. especially when the explosions took place. 'Hie vicinity was illuminated for some distance around and an impression of a big fireworks display was given. When a large explosion took place various coloured lights shot up into the heavens, caused it is thought by acids used in connection with the fellmongery. When the boiler went skywards it made for itself a wake of destruction and took with it showers of sparks and lighted debris of all kinds. Jins was the beginning of the end and the whole structure collapsed shortly after. Other spectacular scenes were witnessed when vats or containers of burning fat went skywards. At 10 o’clock this morning a desolate scene was presented. The rums were still smouldering and in places firemen were kent ever on the alert snrpressing small outbreaks. Tiles of smouldering wool were being played with water and various groups, of men were turning the debris over in orucr to allow water to get to the burning pelts. The once up-to-date niachitierv was a mass of twisted destruction and it was here flint the greatest damage occurred. Tens of thousands of. rounds’ worth of modern wool scouring and fellmongerv appliances “went west.” Mysterious Outbreak. Speaking to a reporter, Mr. Gilbert, superintendent of the Oneliunga brigade, said that it was a mysterious outbreak. “It had been going for ten minutes or n quarter of an hour befoie we got there, aud the roof collapsed ten minutes after we arrived,” he said. “There was a good pressure of water all the time, and if we had managed to get the alarm earlier and had got there sooner, we might have been able to do some good. All we could do under the circumstances was to save the fire spreading.” At 5.10 p.m. yesterday the foreman of works, Mr. E. Butterworth, made his usual inspection to see if everything was all right, and at that time there was no sign of fire. For the past twelve months the works have been running short time, and about a month ago full hours were commenced. Some very valuable wool was in the store under treatment, and the fire means that the staff of 20 men will be thrown out of employment. This morning’s fire was the largest which has taken place in Onehnnga for the jiast ten years. It is just decade ago that Sutherland and Company’s tannery was destroyed. The premises were insured with the New Zealand Insurance Company. Details are: Building, £5000; contents, £23,190; making a total of £28,190. OUTBREAK IN HOTEL YARD ACTRESS GIVES PROMPT ALARM A cigarette butt carelessly thrown in amongst grass aud gorse caused an outbreak of fire in the backyard of the Carlton Hotel, Willis Street, shortly after 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon. Miss Vera Sewell, a member of the Moon Morris Revue Company, now at His Majesty’s Theatre, was the first to observe flames spreading, and she immediately raised the alarm by ringing the firebell. Two fire brigade engines were sent at once to the spot, and after a few minutes’ struggle the outbreak was subdued. Had the alarm not been given by Miss Sewell when it was, serious damage might have resulted, as a wooden structure of steps leading to the rear of the building was only situated a few yards away. As it was, no damage was done beyond the burning of grass and bush.

Be prepared. See that you have adequate insurance on your house and furniture Consult the Mercantile and General Insurance Co. Ltd., Panama Street. It is a local company with all its capital invested in New Zealand, therefore prompt settlements.—Advt.