FIRE AT KAIWARRA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1163, 15 June 1894, Page 34

FIRE AT KAIWARRA.

The Kaiwarra Fellmongery, owned by Mr Andrew Turnbull, was destroyed by fire on Friday night. Tho outbreak occurred about 7.45 p.m. Several of the employees were engaged drying wool in the building at the time. One of them, Alfred Palmer, who has charge of the drying-room, asked another a young man named Yates to get him some water, as he was thirsty. Yates procured the water in a can, and Palmer, having taken some of it, re tinned to tho drying-room and opened the door. Palmer states that he had not been away more than two or three minutes, but when he returned and opened the door of the drying-room a mass of flames rushed out of the door. Palmer procured a bucketful of water and threw the contents on the fire, but as he could make no impression on the flames, which had gained a great hold, ho left the building. There were about 50 bales of wool, and 700 skins on the premises, but tho flames spread so rapidly that only one bale of wool was saved. Tho building, being an old wooden one, burnt very rapidly, and tho whole of the premises were soon enveloped in flames, which were assisted by the fresh wind blowing. Tho Firo Brigade, under Captain Kemsley, reached the scene shortly after 8 o'clock, and a couple of strong jots of water were soon brought to bear on the fire. By tho efforts of the brigade tho flames were prevented from spreading to some of the adjoining buildings used in connection with tho fellmongery, and by 0.30 the fire was almost extinguished. Fortunately there were no private houses close to tho fellmongery. In addition to the wool and skins mentioned, a quantity of tho plant, including two wool-presses, weighing machine, and othere appliances, was destroyed. A number of skins were placed yesterday in the docks in tho stream which runs alongside tho premises, and they of course escaped injury. An engine which was situated close to tho drying-room was also saved, as was a cart and a number of empty casks. Mr Turnbull was in tho press-room under the drying-room at tho time of the outbreak, but he is quite unable to account for tho origin of tho fire. Mr Turnbull's stock and plant is insured, but the insurance, ho thinks, will not cover his loss. The building is owned by the trustees in tho Schultzo estate. Tho insurances aro as follow :—Stock, <£3oo, National office, and jC2OC, North British and Mercantile ; building and plant, .£SOO, North British. Tho wool and other produce were covered under an open policy through Messrs Murray, Boberts and Co., but the office has not yet been ascertained. The firo was witnessed by a large crowd of people, many of whom walked out from town.