DESTRUCTION BY FIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19215, 2 January 1926, Page 8

DESTRUCTION BY FIRE.

OUTBREAK AT NEWMARKET, MESSRS. HARDLEY'S FACTORY. BRIGADES STRENUOUS FIGHT, Damage estimated at between £2OOO and £3OOO was caused by a fire ,on Thursday evening in the galvanising and tin department of Hardleys, Limited, plumbers' suppliers and manufacturers of dairy requisites, in Broadway, Newmarket. The Newmarket, Fire Brigade received a call at twenty minutes past, nine, and, although they were quickly on the scene, flames had burst through the roof. Hundreds of people who were doing their Now Year's Eve shopping in Newmarket soon gathered. The firemen, who worked under the direction of Captain T. J. Watts, were confronted with a difficult and dangerous task. The lire spread to several jars of sulphuric acid stored among the machinery and as they burst with the terrific heat they released dangerous fumes. Fortunately the firemen had been warned, and although a few were affected none were overpowered. A largo stock of palm oil, used in connection with the. industry caught fire, making matters worse. The brigado confined its activities tc keeping the fire to the one section of the building;. However, the flames spread through to the brass moulding shop arid worked havoc there. Some idea of the intense heat can be gained from the fact that quantities of brass and aluminium scrapping wcro reduced to a molten ine-sa. The. fire-fighting operations were hindered somewhat on account of accidents with the hi-scs. A moto-car ran over one length :>f hose and burst it> and later on a large bus full of passengers ran over the hoso and burst a 200 ft.. length. Great difficulty was encountered m getting at the seat of the fixe. On account of the heat and falling roofs tho firemen could not proceed far into the burning quarter. A hole was cut in the roof and a hos«* dinjeted from there. It was not until after a strenuous fight, lasting three hours that the outbreak was subdued. It is considered that under the circumstances the brigade made a fine save. The building, which occupies a whole block, is one-storied and is built in concrete. The fire broke out in tho rear, and all tho front portion, where tho manufactured articles ara stored, wa? saved. Tho New Zealaad Lead Works, Limited, occupies two wings adjoining the destroyed area, and this portion was also saived. * Tho origin of the fire is a mystery. No fire 3 have been lighted in tho works for nearly a week, and tho furnaces were all " doad." At eight o'clock a watchman went through tho whole building, and at that time them was no suspicion of a fire. Hundreds of cases of acids were destroyed, and a largo amount of machinery was also badly damaged. The insurances are not available. SUSPECTED INCENDIARISM. TWO OUTBREAKS IN THE CITY. Five minor fires, in two of which .incendiarism is suspected, occurred during Thursday aud yesterday. At half-past ten on Thursday night the City Firo Brigade received a call to Edson Chambers, High Street. A firo had started in a box of straw in the basement at th? back. Fortunately a passer-by noticed the outbreak or otherwise serious damago might have resulted. Tho box was placed beside a large gas meter. The fire authorities believe this to be the work o? an incendiarist. Shortly before eleven o'clock tho brigade was called to City Chamber;!, Queen Street. On the second aud third floors there are cupboards near the lift where paper is stored, and fire had broken out in each cupboard. The alarm was given by two occupiers of tho building who happened to be going to their offices. As it was, the brigade arrived just in time. The flames were being fanned by a strong drought from tho lift-well, and in another minute or two would have had a dangerous hold. The brigade had no trouble in extinguishing the fires, which also are thought to be the work of incendiarists. Earlier in the evening the brigade was called to West End Road, Ponsonby, where a fire had started in a heap of sawdust near an old sawmill. No difficulty was experienced in subduing the fire. A pan of boiling fat caught fire in the kitchen of the Y.M.C.A., Wcllesley Street, shortly a iter seven o'clock yesterday morning. Tho brigade was calied, but the night porter extinguished tho flames before the firemen arrived. The brigade was called to Alston Chambers, Lower Queen Street, at about five o'clock yesterday afternoon". Owing to the fusing of a wire the woodwork or. a large switchboard on the first floor caught fire, aud was burning merrily whe:.i tho brigado arrived. The outbreak was soon under control. The woodwork on the ceiling above was charred considerably. Shortly after nine o'clock last evening the Newmarket Brigade received a ca.il to Park Road, which proved to be a false alarm. SERVICE CAR TAKES FIRE. FLAAIES SOON SUPPRESSED. [BY TELEGKAPK. —OWH CORRESPONDENT. ] HAMILTON. Thursday. While on the Hamilton-Te Kuiti run yesterday a service car belonging to Mr. I Innes-Jones, of Hamilton, caught fire near 1 Otorohanga. The flames, which were confined to the hood and rear seat, were quickly quelled, and the car was able to continue its journey. It is thought that a spark from a cigarette caused the outbreak. OUTBREAKS AT TE AWAMUTU. TWO LORRIES DESTROYED. [by telegraph.-—own correspondent. ] TE AWAMUTU. Friday. A motor shed at Parawala, containing two lorries belonging to Mr. Mi lien, was completely destroyed on Christmas Eve. There were small insurances on the building and vehicles. On Monday afternoon a motor shed in Mahoe Street, belonging to Mr. L. Marsh, was demolished. On Tuesday night the fire brigade was called out to quell an outbreak at the local sawmill, a pile of sawdust having i ignited.