FIRES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17097, 21 February 1916, Page 2

FIRES.

OUTBREAKS AT REDCLIFFS.

At a quarter to nine on Saturday! evening, when the carnival at Redcliffsj was in full swing, th« firing of a rocket was followed by a sudden glare above the deep gully near the reservoir. At first it was thought to be- part ofi the pyrotechnic display, but the appearance of alarming tongues of flams' convinced the hundreds of .spectatora that something more serious had oc< curred The alarhi was sounded at th« Redcliffs station, and, with the boss reel roped to a motor-car, the brigade hurried 'to the scene, accompanied Joy a great following from the carnival. 11 was then discovered that the grass anc plantation in the gully were too wefi alight to be saved, but a successful elfort was made by a small army of beat ors to save the house of Mr L. P Longuet. Wijth tha exception of s blaze, in-the washhouse "this was done, although several helper* suffered much from the suffocating fumes from the tussocks. At a late hour, after careful inspection, the brigade left the hose in readiness and ro turned home, the local residents under." taking to keep guard during the night. At 0.30 a.m. on Sunday. a crashing sound was heard, and Messrs L. Comerford and Pearce discover*! Mr Longuet's- house in flames. The brigades from Sumner and Redcliffs were hurried to the scene, but although a good supply of water was at hand, the whole of the interior of the house, with all th? furniture, was totally destroyed. Mr Longuet, who was spending a week-end at Prebbleton, was- sent for, and although a strict watch was Sept a third outbreak occurred- at 1 p.m. 1 The house, of which the outside shell only remains, was a six-roomed, twostoreyed building, and was insured in the Guardian Office for £loo, with £IOO on the furniture. -«.*;•;.<-, >.- : . /

TWO-STOREY DWJJLMNG DAMAGED. > I

Shortly after nine on Saturday night a fire occurred in St Asaph Street in an eight-roomed two-storey- dwellinghouse owned by Messrs Taylbr and Oaldev and occutried by Mrs Annie Brocker. The brigade attended, and soon had the fire under control. The rear portion of the house and the root were badly damaged by fire, and the contents were damaged by water- The furniture was insured for £IOO in'the Liverpool and London and Globe Office. The house was insured. g

DWELLING-HOUSE IN PAPANUI ROAD ABLAZE.

A fire occurred vesterd'ay afternoon , at 219. Papanui Road, a two-storey dwelling-house and shop occupied byMr A. E. Kevs. painter and paperhanger. The 'lire started in the upper storev, and two rooms in that storey and the roof wore badly damaged by file. The fire brigade was promptly on the scene, and saved the remainder of the building. Tha stock m the shop was damaged by water. .The building is owned by Mr James Bovrbyes, of Ashley Bank, and is insured. The stock'was insured for £3OO in the National and for a similar amount in the State Fire Insurance Office.