Grandstand At Ashhurst Coarse Razed By Fire
SPECTATORS CO-OPERATE TO SAV illuminating the tracks over which horses that very day had been ridden to victory, lire raged with complete abandon at Ashhurst racecourse late last night, whon the large wooden grandstand, capable of seating 1000 people, was burned to the ground in the space of an hour. The cause of this disastrous conflagration is unknown although it was probably the result of a cigarette carelessly thrown aside during the meeting yesterday. Driving homeward to Pahiatua about 11.45 o’clock two young men were the first to notice the outbreak and they promptly took measures which undoubtedly prevented the spread of the flames to adjacent buildings. Arming themselves with tree bougus, ns emergency firebeaters, they smothered the flames spreading from the main building to the grass surrounding it and which were running along toward the fences dividing the enclosure from the track; to the steward’s stand and to the totalisator house —both wooden structures. Had a wind being blowing last evening the other buildings in the vicinity would almost certainly have been, destroyed. A small crowd of spectators gathered to witness the destruction of the stand, which provided a spectacular blaze as the flames grew in volume. The reflection was visible in the eastern quarter of the city and a number of Palinerstonians motored out to the scene.
By 12.30 o ’clock the roof and walls had collapsed and at 1 o’clock all that remained was an inferno, nothing having been saved from the firo demon. It is understood that the grandstand at tho Ashhurst racecourse was erected in 1901, portions having been added since. Recent improvements included the built-up bank and cement walls.
About. 10.30 o’clock last evening the Palmerston North Fire Brigade responded to a call-box alarm to the corner of Fitzherbert avenue and the (Square, the main siren being sounded. The alarm, however, proved to be a false one.
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Bibliographic details
Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6764, 23 January 1932, Page 6
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320Grandstand At Ashhurst Coarse Razed By Fire Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6764, 23 January 1932, Page 6
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