Early Morning Blaze

Manawatu Times, Volume LII, Issue 3538, 21 February 1927, Page 3

Early Morning Blaze

Makino Store and Dwelling Destroyed CHELTENHAM FACTORY ENDANGERBL , ! ; lire completely consumed the Makino store and a five-roomed dwelling, next door to the Cheltenham Dairy Company’s factory at one o’clock on Sunday morning and the fortunate absence of any wind prevented other buildings in the vicinity from sharing a simi- - lar fate. Fed from a / dead-end main, the water pressure was very poor, and this factor did not affect the complete destruction of the buildings. It certainly handicapped the brigade, however, in its work of saving the big butter factory on the one side and a small cottage on the other. The alarm was given by Mr. Huddlestone, who lived two doors from the fire. He was awakened at 10 minutes to one a.m., by the noise of the fire and ran to Mr. W. Reid’s home to ’phone the Brigade. As he passed the buildings he noticed that both were well alight. The sounding of the flrebell soon summoned the brigadesmen- from their slumbers and when the engines arrived on the. scene both buildings were a mass of flames. The sky reflected the fire for miles found and first thoughts were that it was the Cheltenham factory. Xothing could be done to stop, the flames from consuming the buildings —the fire had too great a hold and efforts were concentrated on saving a small cottage occupied by Mr. Christian, separated from the fire by a right-of-way. This building was badly scorched and blistered, and the windows broken. A bucket brigade attended to this, whilst the only lead of water available was turned on to the woodwokr of the. butter factory’s premises which was alight in places. ( Willing helpers removed all the furniture from the cottage to the roadside.: The Power Board was communicated .with in order to cut off the power in the high tension lines which were in close proximity to the flames One pole carrying these lines was burning, and it was likely that the wires would fall to the ground. When the power was cut off the brigade worked with confidence and were successful, in spite of water difficulties, in preventing the flames from spreading. ' The shops with two rooms attached was connected to the five-roomed dwelling by a passage. Mr. D .O. Me. Elroy, son of Mr. O. McElroy, occupied both premises, which were owned by Mrs. Jefferies, of Palmerston North Mr. McElroy was visiting Tangimoana with his wife at the time of the fir.e and'no one knows . its cause. On returning to Pellding yesterday and viewing the destruction, Mr. McElroy collapsed and had to receive medical attention. He was removed, together with his wife, who also collapsed, to his in Kimbolton road. His condition was not too satisfactory. s In discussing the water supply with Superintendent Sporle yesterday, the matter of equipping the local brigade with a pumping plant to increase the pressure on dead-end mains was raised. Mr. Sporle considered that such a pump would have helped the birgade to control the fire and had there been a high wind its services would have been essential if the fire was to tie held in check. Failing a pump, he considers that the Borough will have to connect Makino with a main from Kimbolton road in order to increase the pressure. There was plenty of water available but no pressure. Some seven settlers living on Cemetery Road and out of the. Borough in Makino had mall boxes at the store and these with their contents were destroyed. As this mall service is out of action, some of the settlers suggested yesterday that boxes might be erected at a convenient spot on the Chelenham factory. The insurances were not available yesterday, but it is understood that the Commercial TJnior held a cover on the buildings for between £7OO and £BOO.