FIRES

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 11449, 25 February 1931, Page 5

FIRES

RACING STABLES DEMOLISHED

THREE VALUABLE HORSES KILLED.

SENSATIONAL EARLY MORNING BLAZE AT MAKAR AIvA.

A sensational fir e occurred this morning at Makaraka at about 2 o’clock when Malone’s old stables, next the hotel, were burned down. The building was an old wooden one and the loft, where the fire is believed to have started, was filled with hay. The building was for many years the property oh the late Mr. P. Malone and was, at the time of thp fire, owned by Mr, H. Moore, of Makaraka and leased to Mr. Fred Dunn, who was using it in connection with the training of a number of racehorses' for the local meetings. Three horses placed in the stable for tile night perished in the flames, one , being the well-known mare To Awlia. owned by Mr. J. O’Grady, of Mohaka. She was the winner.of the Waipawa Cup. and also carried off the Wairoa Cup a year ago. The other two horses burned to death were Bouffon and Psycho, owned bv Mr. J. Pearson of Hastings. They were engaged at the Ruatoria meeting and woiy, to have gone up the Coast- by motorfloat today. . ,

A fourth horse in an adjoining yard, Air. George Dunn’s Garzon, escaped unhurt. Air. Moore, flic owner of the building. is up at Rualoria with bis liorso, Tama AVaiaht. By the time Hie lire was observed it fiad a good hold oil the dry woodwork which burned like tinder, while the hayloft was a roaring inl'erno, rendering any attempt to rescue the horses or to control the blaze quite futile.

HOUSE DESTROYED AT KAITI

A house at Kaili, owned by AJr. Fred Hall, and occupied by Air. P. Corbett, was completely destroyed yesterday morning by a fire Avhich commenced iu a detached washnouse. Lack of water was a largely contributing factor to the total loss ol tho buildings. The- lire was noticed m its early stages in the washhouse, but nothing could be done- to quell the outbreak as the tanks were empty and tho house outside the reticulated area. Stimulated by the strong wind, tho fire soon carried to the house, only a few- yards away, and the brigade was called out. A bucket brigade was formed and, at one stage, it was thought that they would be ahle lo effec-F a save, but the difficulty of. obtaining water handicapped the workers, so that soon Haines were seen issuing from the interior of the building. A. last effort was made with the Brigade’s chemical extinguisher, but the lire had by that time such a hold that it was not long before the dwelling, which was insured for £6OO m the- South British Office, was completely demolished.

GRASS FIR-E IN RUSSELL STREET. . Called out shortly after noon yesLerday. the Fire Brigade was on its wav to a grass fire on Sherratt’s Hill, in Russell street, when it received word that the outbreak was under control. Assured that their services would not he required, tho firemen returned to the station. - FIVEROOAIED HOUSE DESTROYED. (Press Association.) ASHBURTON. Feb. 24 A. five-roomed house and its contents. owned and occupied by Air. E. Frisby, a farmer, at Lagmhor, was destroyed by fire at 2 o’clock yesterday morning. Practically nothing was saved. The origin of tho fire is unknown. The insurance on the house and furniture totalled £975 in the London and Lancashire office.

Protect yourself against losses ■by fire by insuring with the Norwich Union Fire Insurance Society, Ltd.— AY. Lissant Clayton.