FIRES IN THE CITY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17702, 31 January 1918, Page 4

FIRES IN THE CITY.

OUTBREAK IN DURHAM STREET.

LARGE QUANTITY OF SPICES

DESTROYED.

Shortly before 3.30 a.m. yesterday a fire, which did a great deal of damage, broke out in the premises of the New Zealand Coffee and Spice Company, 323, Durham Street, near the comer of Victoria Street-

The fire, it is thought, was started by a spark from a high-velocity disintegrating machine used for dealing with spices, on the first floor. A hole has been burnt in the floor, close to tho machine, and the ceiling above it is scorched and charred- The firo spread rapidly through tho large room, which was completely gutted. There were large quantities of spices in tho room. The company, like other business concerns, }iad laid in extensivo stocks, and piles of spices were destroyed by the flames. Practically nothing has been saved on that floor. The ..damage is not known, but it is estimated to be much above the insurance. 4 The alarm was given by a lady who lives next door, and who was aroused by the noise of the flames. The Fire Brigade was communicated with, and promptly set out for the scene. By tho time the engine arrived, the firo had not spread to the ground . floor. The brigade succeeded in stopping it, with the result that the contents of the ground floor were not damaged, except slightly with water- All the company’s stock of coffee is on that floor. The company finds that the firo will not interfere in any way with the fulfilling of orders, as it has reserve stocks of spices. The building is of brick, and is not damagedThe insurances are:—Stock &MW and plant £4OO, in tho Northern Office; buildings £9OO, iu the London and Lancashire Office. The business was established by Mr G. W. Trent fifty-four years ago. It was conducted as Trent Brothers until ten yoars ago, and about twelvemonths ago it was converted into the present company BLAZE IN MANCHESTER STREET. SHOP DAMAGED. A firo broke out at 4.45 a.m. yesterday in a block of buildings in Manchester Street, next the Excelsior Hotel. The brigade received a call from the box at the corner of Lichfield and Manchester Streets, but at the time two engines were attending the firo in Durham Street, leaving only one engine, at the station. This third engine was soon at the scene of the fire and a message was dispatched for an engine from the other fire. As the fire at Durham Street was by this time well under control No. 2 engino was sent to the scene of this second outbreak, which was burning fiercely by the time tho engino arrived. The fire started in the back of a fruit simp, occupied by Miss G. M. Garland, andj>y means of a back staircase it quickly round a way to the first floor, which was badly damaged. Tho ground floor adjoining the shop, occupied by the Kaikoura Independent Fishermen’s Association,, escaped the flames, but the first floor was gutted. The front portion of the fruit shop was not touched by the fire, but the woddwork and contents were scorched, and blackened by the heat and smoke. Fortunately there was no one sleeping on the premises, although one small room on the first floor was furnished as a bedroom. The fire did not present any great difficulty to the brigade, which experienced little trouble in confining it to the block in which it started. Within half an hour the outbreak was well under control. The building was owned by Messrs Fletcher, Humphreys and Co. Miss Garland’s shop was insured for £SOO in the Union of Canton office, and tho fish shop was insured for £3OO in tho Alliance office. Miss Garland’s stock was insured for £420 in the Union Office.