FIRES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCV, Issue 10889, 24 February 1896, Page 5

FIRES.

A fire broke out on Saturday afternoon on premises in Gloucester Street oast, owned by Mr W. J. Walker, Okain’s Bay, and occupied by Mr J. B. Alston, hairdresser. The house and furniture were totally destroyed. The furniture was insured for UIOO in the New Zealand Office, and the house for JlilO in tho North British Office. Both chemical engines were on the spot in a very short time, and succeeded in preventing the flames from spreading to the adjoining buildings. The steamer Extinguisher was placed, at the East Christchurch School baths, and had steam up, in the event of its services being required, but as the fire was outside the belt, it could not be used without a guarantee for the eost. There was nobody in the house at tho time. It is supposed that a piece of wood which had boon left in the kitchen grate must have fallen on to the floor, and set fire to the house. At Tai Tapu, on Friday night, shortly before twelve o’clock, Mr Joseph Woodcock’s house was burned down. Mr Woodcock, who had been painting in the kitchen, went into the sitting-room with a lamp, leaving a short piece of candle burning on the mantlepiece close to a bottle of turpentine, and on his return found the mantlepiece in dames. So rapid was the progress of i the fire that some of the family barely escaped with their lives. Nothing was saved. The house and furniture were insured, but Mr Woodcock will be a heavy loser.