FIRES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 999, 24 April 1891, Page 12

FIRES.

The firebells rang out an alarm last night about 7.30 for an outbreak at Dyinock s bacon factory, Ngahauranga, which was partially destroyed. The Brigade went out to the scene, and succeeded in aubdumg the flames, but not before some £6OO worth of damage had been done. Tho cause of the outbreak is not known. The place is insured with the New Zealand. Insurance Co. for £SOO, which amount is partly reinsured iD other offices.

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.! Watpawa, April 17. The residence of Mr Williamson, teacher uf the public school at Waipawa, was destroyed by fire at 5 this morning. Nothing was saved. The inmates, Mr and Mrs \\ il* liamson, escaped in their night clothes. It was an old building, tho property of the Education Board. The origin of the fire is unknown, but apparently was in the kitchen. Mr Williamson’s furniture was insured for £450, but he loses £3OO, including a valuable library,

Blenheim, April 16. A fire oocnrred at 6.30 this evening, starting in the Marlborough Times office, apparently in or close to the editor’s room. Tho foreman left the building at 5.30, and passed the premises again at 6.10, and he saw no signs at that time of anything out of the ordinary. There had been no fire in the office and no gas alight during the day, and the editor had not been in the office for more than a few minnte3 at a time daring the day. When the fire was firßt discovered it had a good hold of the premises, and rapidly spread to Card's (bookseller’s) shop, and also to Sherwood’s fruiterers shop on the other side. Both these places were destroyed, and also Howard’s (cabinetmakers). By great exertion tho brigade saved Tait’s Masonic Hotel and Hustwiok’s chemist ahop. Fully a quarter of an hour elapsed before the water-was on, and though tho men worked well there was a lack of. efficient management, as later in the course of the fire a stoppage had to be made for fully ten minutes owing to the faulty workiug of the steam engine. Fortunately there was no wind, and when the water was again connected it did not take long to get the fire out. The stock was removed from Smale and Hay’s drapery, bat the fire did not touch them. Nothing was saved from the Times offioe. Mr Howard loses all his household effects. Mrs Sherwood saved most of her furniture and stock, and Mr Card saved a small portion of his stock. Mr Hustwick’s stock was all removed, but suffered considerable damage. Following are the insurances as far as known : -G. C. Beckett (Times), £2OO in the Royal, £2OO in the North German. His estimated loss above this, £IOOO. Howard’s stock £350 in the London and Lancashire, estimated loss £SOO. Hustwick, £2OO on stock in the North German ; Winstanley, fruiterer (not damaged), £IOO on stock in* trade in the London and Lancashire ; Smnlo and Hay, stock £SOO in the New Zealand, £SOO in the National, £SOO in the Standard, £250 in the North German, £250 in the Phoenix. No damage was done by the fire or water, but considerable by removal. As to the buildings they principally belong to the Blick estate, and are likely to be insured in the Phoenix or North German offices. . Blenheim, April 17-

Re the late fire, nothing is known of the origin. Mr E. O’EL Canavau, editor of the Marlborough Times, was absent for the day in Picton, and the statements of the foreman and other employes throw no light on the cause of the disaster. Mr Beckett, the proprietor, who has lost everything, will start again, and the Times will probably be issued on Tuesday next. Spontaneous offers of support and sympathy have been received by him from all parts of the district, including money promises and every form of assistance. Wanganui, April 19. Laird’s Commercial Hotel was coroplett-ly destroyed by fire at 1 o’clock on Sunday morning. The inmates had a narrow escape. The Brigade worked grandly. It is supposed to be a ease of incendiarism. Francis Kelly, employed at the hotel, has been arrested on suspicion. There was no insurance on the building, but £7OO on th 6 stock and furniture in the New Zealand office.