FIRES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16518, 6 April 1914, Page 8

FIRES.

GARAGE DESTROYED. [From Our Correspondent.] INVERCARGILL, April 3

Mr Millrov, a Wyndham dentist, suffered a severe loss last night through his garage and motor-car being destroyed by fire. Ho and a friend, Mr Winning) were overhauling the car, and left in the - midst of the work for a few minutes to have a meal. Just before they resumed work they heard an explosion, and on rushing out they saw that the garago and the car had both been badly wrecked. Tho theory is that a carelessly dropped cigarette butt had ignited the petrol which was leaking from the ’tank, and so caused the explosion. The garage was not insured, but the New Zealand Insurance Company held a risk on the car.

SCHOOL RESIDENCE BURNED. [Pkr Press Association. 1 TIMARU, April 3. The school residence at Seadown, not occupied by the teacher, hut by a family named 'M’Donald, was burned with "tlie contents, while the occupants were away. The furniture was insured for £IOO.

FLAXMILLS DESTROYED. [Per Press Association.] FOXTON, April 4. At daylight this morning two flaxmills at Tokomaru, owned by Tennikanui Ltd., were completely destroyed by fire. The insurance was £IOOO and the proprietors estimate that they are heavy losers. About fifty men will be thrown out of employment until the mills are reerected. It was the intention to keep these mills running continuously through the winter. The cause of the outbreak is not yet known.

During threshing operations on Mr Anderson’s farm at Lismore on Friday last, some stacks caught fire, which were totally destroyed. The plant was saved. Mr Anderson estimates his loss at 500 bushels of wheat.

At 5-49 last night the fire brigade was called out to a fire at a one-storied flourmill in Moorhouse Avenue, occupied by Messrs Wheeler and Co, and owned by the Christchurch Gas Company. The building was damaged, but the contents, which were not insured, were not injured. The insurances on the building were not known last night. Shortly before midnight last night the brigade received a call to deal with a fire in an unoccupied house of six rooms in Gloucester Street, Linwood. Tho outbreak was suppressed after the interior of the house, which is the property of Mrs Finnerty, had been damaged.