FIRES IN THE CITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14807, 10 October 1911, Page 7

FIRES IN THE CITY.

EMPTY HOUSE GUTTED.

A LIVERPOOL-STREET BLAZE.

Shortly before eight o'clock' last night an empty house in Liverpool-street caught fire, and was gutted., , A small boy, James Smyths, was playing in the street when he saw flames bursting from the top storey. He immediately ran and gave the alarm to the City Brigade. The brigade quickly responded,; but the . flames had- got too strong a hold, and the building was destroyed; .. - . v

The brigade by their promptitude, howover,' were ablo to save the house next door, which was only separated from the burning house by a 4ft alleyway. The inhabitants of this house removed a quantity of their furniture, but, luckily, it was a needless precaution. The house in which the fire occurred has been empty for over a month, but it is stated that plumbers were working there a few days ago. When investigation was made after the blaze, it was evident that the fire had originated in the front upstair bedroom, in which there is no fireplace, and how it came to catch fir© is a mystery. Another singular fact is that when the firemen reached the roof two sheets; of iron were missing, which the firemen state it would be impossible to dislodge with the water. ■■" •'*■> ■ ■•': '; ',"• ', V "K\ '

.The house, which was a fire-roomed one, was owned by Mr. Cooper, hatter, of Queen-.-street. It is understood that Mr. Cooper only recently acquired the property,, and though the' house was insured previous to his purchasing it, it is not known whether he took over the, insurance.' "-' .- ..The Fire Brigade received a call at 8.33 last night to a house in Cook-street,, where, a wardrobe had caught fire. -A minute's work was sufficient to quell the outbreak, the i damage being limited to 'about '£10, which was chiefly through water.

;,...;. SOUTHERN OUTBREAKS.* : .7;' : FLAXMItL DESTROYED, > , ;'-, [BT T?LPGBAPH.—PBESS ASSOCIATION.! , ~-h _ ■ Wellington, . > Monday. v ■By a fire at Linton on Saturday, Mr. Geo. • Craw's large flaxmill 'and '■' t contents was completely destroyed. The ! ' mill" Was do jra;«for*4h«t-usual s -half-hoEdayV .The fire a r goodbold when-discovered. ,:, Besides, the ;usual; machinery the mill' contained a portable; engine and five tons of fibre. ''. Mr.'Craw estimates his loss at '£1000, / no' insurance being obtainable on flaxmills.; •;?; ' '; : '~*- ; ":■':'{ - : "<

'; BUSINESS PREMISES BURNED. CEtRKTCHimcH, Monday. .-' J. K. Wallace's auction mart arid offices at Kaikoura " were • destroyed by fire this morning. . The building and contents were insured for £250 in the Alliance, but the loss exceeds that amount . greatly. The books in the safe were badly damaged. The sum of £100 was in - the safe, ' in & cash- box, and the coin melted and the notes i were burned. .--.. The ■. Kaikoura Racing Club's totalisator, insured for £68, was also- destroyed in the "fire.- .' . "j