FIRES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume C, Issue 11750, 30 November 1898, Page 5

FIRES.

.Uhited 'Press’ Association—-By "Electric T el egraph—Copyright. A TRAIN ON FIRE. SYDNEY, Nov. 29. A number of ohafl’-laden, trucks, in the centre of the Western mail train, caught fire while travelling. The passengers were detained, Laving to wait till the- fire had burned out before the train could proceed. DESTRUCTIVE BUSH FIRE. MELBOURNE, Nov. 29. w A bush fire at Namurkah destroyed a large area of grain crops.

THE S.S. COKINNA ON FISE. [Per Press Association.] WESTPORT, Nov. 29. A sensation was caused in the town at 8.15 last night by a fire aboard the Gonnna, leading coal at the staithes. The fire broke out in the lamp-room, and when the stock of kerosene caught there was a great blaze and much smoke. The flames travelled through the alloy-way, but only blistered the paint. The lamp-room was burnt out. With the use of buckets and the aid of the town 'Steam engine, the fire was subdued. The Corinna left for Lyttelton this morning.

THAMES, Nov. 29.

James Paterson’s varnish works were destroyed by fire this morning. The loss is estimated at £4OO. There was no insurance.

MB J. JOHNSTON’S ENGINEERING ESTABLISHMENT.

At half-past one yesterday afternoon flames were observed to suddenly burst from the upper windows of Mr J. Johnston’s engineering shop at Rangiora. The fire-bells quickly gave .the alarm, and in a few minutes the place was surrounded by a large crowd, it being market day. The brigade bad water ten smartly from their manual engine, and about twelve minutes later two jets were playing from the steamer placed at a fire well close to the burning building. The fire had evidently a good hold before it was seen, and there being a stiff easterly breeze blowing, it quickly ran through the western half of the building, below which was Mr Johnston’s workshop, full of expensive machinery. The upper floor was burnt through, and the premises were practically gutted. In the front shop there were stored engine fittings, a stock of leather belting (probably the largest inCanterbury) and a number of other goods, and all were more or less damaged by smoke and water. In half an hour the fire was completely extinguished. The adjoining promises, Mr G. B’. Smith’s drapery establishment, and Mr Johnston’s ironmongery store being of brick and iron escaped without damage.

Great sympathy was expressed for Mr Johnston, this being the second time within three or four years that his works have been gutted by tire. The fire is supposed-to have been started by sparks from a pipe, or a match dropped by someone during the dinner hour. The insurances are —£2oo on the building, iJ3SO on the stock of engineers 5 requisites, and iM-30 on the engineers 5 plant, all in the Alliance Office. The damage will be well up to the insurances, and Mr Johnston will suffer further serious loss by the works being idle just as the busy season is coming in. AT PERNSIDE. Just after five o s clock on Monday evening a fire broke out at the Pernside, bakery, in a room attached to the bakehouse. There being a number of men about at the time, the fire was quickly extinguished, but not before the place was gutted. The room was occupied by the baker, Mr P. Gilmore, as a sleeping apartment, and he lost about £2O worth of articles. The building, which belonged to Mr D. MTntyre, was included in a £SOO policy held by the Liverpool, London and Globe Office over the whole premises.