FIRE AT THE SUNNYSIDE LUNATIC ASYLUM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9188, 18 October 1888, Page 5

FIRE AT THE SUNNYSIDE LUNATIC ASYLUM.

GREAT DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY.

LOSS £12,000.

DEFECTIVE FIRE APPLIANCES.

THE PATIENTS SAFE. [by TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Christchubcii, Wednesday. A disastrous fire occurred at the Sunnyside Lunatic Asylum, to-day, when the western wing of the building was destroyed, involving a loss of thousands of pounds' worth of property. The asylum is about three miles out of Christchurch, on the Lincoln Road, and the fire broke out shortly before eleven a.m. in the women's ward of the westward wing. This is situated in an older portion of the building, which is of very large extent, and has been added to from time to time. Much might have been done to arrest the spread of tho flames had the people at the Asylum sent full information at once to town by telephone when they found they were unable to cope with the fire. The two brigade engines were sent out, but no request was made for tho much more powerful railway engine, which did not get to work on the scene of action till past twelve o'clock. The other two engines were got out within half an hour, and were forthwith taken to the river Heathcote, which, fortunately, runs close behind the Asylum, so that there was plenty of water available. The fire ivas practically extinguished by three o'clock. The city engine was the first to play from the adjoining creek about half-an-hour after the alarm was given. Half-an-hour later the Railway engine, which had been telephoned for, got to work from the underground tank in front of the buildings, and ten minutes after the other city engine got into play. A strong N.E. wind rendered the work of the firemen difficult, but they acted with the greatest gallantry, as did the men from the Addington workshops. The fire began in an attic over C ward, and when the roof fell a hole was observed in the chimney passing through it; and it is supposed that sparks found their way through. This chimney caught lire abeufc 5.30 a.m., but the flames were supposed to have been extinguished. The arrangements in the asylum for the prevention of lire appear to have been defective. There is a hand fire engine on the premises, but it is not powerful enough, and no use was made of it. The fire boxes were not of much greater service. One was discovered to be full of blacking, and the other was empty, but locked and keyless. The whole of the upper portion of the female department is burned out, and the rooting, windows, doors, etc. consumed, whilst the upper floor is in most places destroyed. The damage to the lower flat has mostly been done by water. The portions burned or otherwise damaged are known as wards A, B, C, and D. The Administration Block, Day's contract, which was opened lately, has escaped, with the exception of the new dormitory on the female side. The female-attendants' diningroom is gutted. The fire was stopped at a point to save the large concrete hall in the centre of the building. In this hall is a large and valuable pipe organ, and its style of architecture, as well as its substantial furniture, gave evidence of its value. Tarpaulins were obtained from the railway station to throw over the organ to save it from the falling water, which was making its way through a broken skylight in the roof, and the instrument thus escaped uninjured. All the furniture in the lower portion of the buildings was got out, but everything in the upper rooms was destroyed, and the female attendants are reported to have lost most of their clothing and belongings. A few goods from Ward A were, however, saved. It is to thecredit of the Gas Company's men that they were first to arrive from town and turn off the gas from the endangered portion of the buildings. The value of that part of the building which has been burnejl is variously estimated, but it is p r ,? v \tted little less than £12,000. The £ s ] a te was two-storeyed, of concrete, wi jo y earg lunr. Pnrf nf e l. portion'' years later. apo. aria <i hewer portion 'V y e:u ' s lrtter - There were no partitions in the upper portion. Naturally the patients were a source ot the most grievous anxiety when the fire broke out. ' It is satisfactory to relate that in this instance no panic occurred, and that tho patients, 230 in number, were got safely away without mishap. They were safely housed in the laundry across the lawn. The men's ward was not attacked by the flames. In the- confusion and excitement there was greit uncertainty as to the fate of many o' the patients. Two were missing for a time, but at last complete assurance came of the safety of-everyone. This fortunate result is due to the cool, unselfish way in which the attendants, particularly the women, did their duty at the trying time, in the face of the disturbing fact that several of them had lost all their belongings. Arrangements have been made for temporarily housing the female patients in the old Immigration Barracks at Addington. People living in the neighbourhood were also prompt in their oilers of assistance, and plenty of accommodation was available. With regard to tho defects in the fireprevention appliances, Dr. McGregor reported on March 15, ISB7, that the result of the trial of the appliances was "very impressive, confirming in every respect the condemnation so frequently expressed in the official reports of Colonel Lean, Deputy Inspector." Under date April 1(5, 1888, Dr. McGregor says:—"The most urgent wants at present are tho effecting of proper precautions against tire, so often urged by Deputy Inspector Colonel Lean."