FIRE AT ONEHUNGA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7773, 20 October 1886, Page 5

FIR E AT ONEHUNGA.

A fire broke out in the premisee of Mr. James Gibbons, Norman's Hill, Onehunga, about four o'clock yesterday morning. The building was a large shed, iron roofed, and once used in connection with Mr. E. Gibbons' sawmill. At the time of the fire there were in the shed a quantity of machinery imported from America to manufacture cooper's staves and heads of various descriptions, costing £400. There wa« also an engine, tools, and other machinery destroyed. The cooperage had been carried on until a couple of months' ago by Mr. James Gibbons, when operations were discontinued. Some 4000 staves were destroyed witn the shed Mr. James Gibbons says he is at a loss to account for the origin of the fire, unless caused by a spark from the blacksmith's forge, which might have sot into the dry wood, when he and his brother were casting some white tangye metal for machine bearings. They left at seven p.m., locking up the premises, and leaving a!l apparently safe. Mrs. Burnett, a neighbour, first noticed the tire, and gave the alarm. The flames were then coming through the roof of the shed, in the direction of the blacksmith's forge, whioh was a part of the building. Her husband got out and with difficulty succeeded in saving his stable. The shed was insured for £SO. and the maohinery for £400, both risks being in the Union. Mr, Gibbons states that his loss will amount to £1000. Sergeant Greene was soon on the sceue. but when he got to the building it was in Hames from end to end.