FIRES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10408, 5 April 1897, Page 5

FIRES.

HANDLE VS CRATED WATER FACTORY.

Shortly after midnight) on Saturday, the fire-bells rang out an alarm, and it proved to bo at Handley's /Erated Waters Factory, Wellington Place, off Wellington-street. The outbreak was firsb noticed by some young men who were on their way homo, and they gave the alarm. In a short space of time, a detachment of the Auckland Fire Brigade, with hose-reel, under Superintendent Hughes, and the Salvage Corps, under Captain Field, were on the ground. The tire had originated in a shed, in which bottles and empty cases were stacked, and from thence the flames spread to the stables of the factory, running up sido walls from the bottom to the top story. The end wall was badly charred. The shed was thoroughly gutted, and the bottles ("empties") stacked there destroyed by the heat. It is difficult to estimate the damage, bat it cannot be less than £50. As Mr. Handlcy lives at North Shoro tho insurances could not bo obtained. Tho origin of tho tiro is unknown. Affred Nash, who drives for Mr, Handley, states ho loft tho stables at 2 p.m. on Saturday, and everything was then safe. Sergeants Clark and Kelly and a detachment of police wero on the ground and assisted in keeping it clear so that the firemen might work unhampered by the crowd. OUTBREAK ON S.S. DOUGLAS. A firo occurred yestorday forenoon shortly after 11 o'clock on hoard the Northern Company's steamer Douglas lying at the Quay-street breastwork. • A seaman named Fish and a boy named Tudor, belonging to tho steamer, saw the smoke rising from tho hold, and they gave tho alarm. It appears that she had a quantity of stone lime aboard, and ib had got moistened in some way or other and heated. Tho Fire Brigade and Salvage Corps promptly turned out,and tho snob of lime wero got out and put overboard. Somo three bags of lime were saved. The fire was confined to tho hold, and no damage was done to the vessel.

ATKINSON'S STORE, WAIMATE, BURNED DOWN.

A fire occurred at W annate, Bay of Islands, on Friday last, at the store of Mr. F. Atkinson, which resulted in its being burned to the ground. The building was insured for £200 and tho stock for £500 in the Commercial Union. Mr. Atkinson, it is stated, will be a loser, as his risk was not fully covered. The business was an old-established one.