FIRE AT PORT AHURIRI.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9221, 25 May 1910, Page 5

FIRE AT PORT AHURIRI.

NIVEN AND CO.'S FOUNDRY IN A

BLAZE,

The fire which broke out in the engineroom of the foundry of Jas. J. Niven and Co., Ltd., Port Ahuriri (Napier), occurred shortly after 11 o'clock yesterday forenoon and before the flames had been completely subjugated very considerable damage had been done. When the outbreak was first discovered it had but a trifling hold, and disastrous results would probably have been averted but for n couple of difficulties in connection with the water service. In the first place when the Spit Fire Brigade arrived on the scene thev could not find the plug in the middle of the main opposite the Company's office, and a lead had to bo run from another plug some chains away. About ten minutes elapsed before the first-named and most serviceable plug was discovered, it been covered thickly with road material, and even then it was found that the jet obtained scarcely reached to the top of the building. Another delay occurred in turning on lie high pressure from the town, so that nearly half-an-hour elapsed from the time the alarm was given until the various lines of hose were in full and forceful play. In the meantime, however, members of the Spit and Napier fire brigades, a contingent of the latter having been" hastily summoned, were doing all that could be done with axes and other appliances.. When the water was brought into full operation the fire was soon mastered and shortly before 1 p.m. there was no danger of further damage , The buildings destroyed were the enginehouse and new cool store, a portion of the old coal store being but' slightly affected. On these three buildings there was an insurance of £2800, but of that sum £800 wasi on the old cool store, so that the actual insurance of the two other buildings was £2000. In the en-gine-room ' and new cool store there was some <ostly plant, on which there no insurance, the Company taking; the risk themselves. The . firm are therefore heavy losers, probably to the extent of about £5000 as estimated by Mr George Nelson, managing director. The whole of the buildings were insured for £4395 and the stock of machin- i cry, etc., for £12,705, making a total of £i 7,100. The risks are divided among the following eleven offices: —New Zealand. South British, National, Liverpool. London and Globe, London and Lancashire, Queensland, Allunce, Sun. Victoria; Atlas and Commercial. These offices are only affected, however, to the extent of the £2000 on the two buildings . destroyed, " the others haying escaped damage and the whole of the valuable stock- being unharmed. During the progress of the fire several accidents occurred. The fall of one of tho walls of the engine-room brought with it a platform from which a fireman named F. Smith and a moulder named W. Napier were descending. Napier was hurled against a and escaped being pinned against its frame by the falling mass. He sustained some flesh wounds and bruises. Smith was pinned for some time by a falling beam I and had some difficulty in getting clear, but he also escaped with a few bruises. Arrangements have been made by the firm to continue their work in all its branches to-morrow morning, so that none of their many hands will suffer from loss of emi)loyment. ,