DESTRUCTION BY FIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19866, 9 February 1928, Page 10

DESTRUCTION BY FIRE.

CHRISTCHURCH WAREHOUSE

VERY EXTENSIVE DAMAGE.

INSURANCES TOTAL £24,000

[BY TELEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CHKiSTCHURCH, Wednesday.

Fire last evening completely gutted the warehouse of Aitchison, Steans and Company, Limited, in Lichfield Street, causing very extensive damage.

The outbreak was discovered shortly after 10.30 p.m., by which time it had obtained a firm hold of the middle of the building. The arrival of the brigade was delayed owing to another call having been received only five minutes earlier. Three engines and the telescopic ladder were despatched to the fire, and the firemen had a very strenuous battle with the flames before the outbreak was brought under control, shortly before midnight. The adjoining premises of T. 11. Green and Company, Limited, arid Fairbairn, Wright and Company, Limited, were not damaged by the fire. Firemen Batter Down Doors. The alarm was given by a nightwatchman. Ho had passed the building a few minutes earlier, but did not notice anything wrong until he reached Manchester Street, when he saw smoke issuing from the premises. The firemen experienced considerable difficulty in breaking their way into the building. The outbreak originated in the middle portion of the two-storey warehouse, which runs from Lichfield Street to Bedford Row, and a heavy wooden door with a number of iron bars across it had to be battered down before the firemen could gain access from that quarter. The Lichfield Street door also had to be forced. Volumes of black smoke were emitted hy the burning goods, but little flame was visible from the street. The efforts of the brigade were concentrated at the front of the building in Lichfield Street. Four leads of hose were brought into play and the extension ladder ssvas elevated against the top of the adjoining buildnig. From that position the water was directed to the heart of the fire. Spectacular Burst of Flames. Shortly after 11 o'clock a fourth engine arrived. The flames then burst out m the roof in front of the building. This provided a spectacular display until water quickly suppressed it. A- brick portion of the building used as a bulk store had not caught alight, but behind it was the heart of the fire. An inferno of crashing glass and dense smoke told of the tremendous volume of water that was being poured into the building. On the Lichfield Street Side the fire was well under control, and the firemen were inside gradually working back to the centre of the building. By 11.30 p.m. the fire was well in hand. A man who was endeavouring to enter the premises of Messrs. T. H. Green, from Bedford How, had a miraculous escape, a policeman pulling hirn back just in time to avoid being struck by a heavy pane of glass, which fell from the burning building. Mr. Steans, managing director of the company, was at the warehouse with a client last evening and left about 10 o'clock. He remained in Cathedral Square talking to a friend until 10.50 p.m., when he caught a tramcar for his home. At that time he had no idea that the warehouse was burning, and he did not receive any intimation of the fact until he had almost reached home. Very Inflammable Stock. The stock carried by the firm comprised practically all lines of fancy goods, hardware, crockery and toys. There was also a small quantity of cartridges in stock. The whole of the stock was destroyed. Mr. Steans said the store was full of orders made up ' ready for despatch. There was also a large number of travellers' orders. The books of the firm were all in the strongroom and the safes, as far as he know. The office portion of the building appeared to have escaped. The whole of the stock was of a very inflammable nature and a large quantity of straw for packing purposes added fuel to the flames. A quantity of water found its way into the cellars of nearby firms, doing considerable damage. Messrs. Fairbairn, Wright and Company's cellar was flooded to a depth of two or three inches, and hardware and other stock Suffered considerably. From 600 gallons to 800 gallons of water found its way into the basement of Messrs. T. H. Green and Company. The damage was slight, owing to a pit being provided for drainage.

The insurances on the stock and fittings or the damaged building are approximately £20,000, spread over several offices. The building was insured for £4OOO in the Queensland Office. The amount of one of the policies was reduced only on Monday, and the firm's loss will be particularly heavy.

DWELLING AT TE PUKE.

TOTAL LOSS CAUSED.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. "| TE PUKE, Wednesday. A six-roomed "dwelling, the property of Mr. A. T. Lang, farmer, iu Upper JSo. 2 Road,' was destroyed by lire yesterday. The insurance was £270, in tho State Office. STABLES DEMOLISHED. OUTBREAK AT WAIOTAPU. [BY TELEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] REPOROA, "Wednesday. The extensive stabling at the Broadlands Estate, Waiotapu, was burned to the ground at about three o'clock this morning. Most of the Contents were saved. Spontaneous combustion in the horse feed is thought to have been the cause of the outbreak. The insurances were very light.

HOUSE AT CANVASTOWN.

OCCUPANTS' HURRIED ESCAPE

[bt telegraph.—press association.] BLENHEIM, Wednesday.

An outbreak of fire at an early hour this morning destroyed a six-roomed dwellihg occupied by Mr. B. 0. Field at Canvastown. The occupants, Mr. and Mrs. Field, a lodger and four children, escaped in their night attire. The building and contents are a total loss.

FIRE IN TEA ROOMS.

GOOD SAVE BY BRIGADE.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] HAMILTON, v/edneadny.

Fire broke out at ono o'clock this morning in a two-Storev wooden building owned uy Mrs. A. Cussen, of Hamilton, in the business quarter of Victoria Street. The upstairs floor is occupied by the Kia Ora Tea Rooms, conducted by Mrs. Cussen, and the lower floor .is subdividad into offices. The fire originated in the tea room kitchen, which was gutted. The brigade effected a good save.