DISASTOUS FIRE AT CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 8523, 1 November 1888, Page 7

DISASTOUS FIRE AT CHRISTCHURCH.

A LUNATIC ASYLUM BURNT. Christchurch, October 17. A most disastrous fire occurred to-day at the Sunnyside Lunatic Asylum. The conflagration is still (1 p.m.) raging fiercely, and it is impossible to say what amount of damage will ultimately have to be recorded, but the whole western wing has already be g destroyed, which involves a loss of thousands of pounds' worth of public property. The place is about three miles out of town on the Lincoln-road, and information as to the progress of the fire only reaches town at intervals.

The fire broke out shortly before 11 a.m. in the woman’s ward in the western wing; this is in the older portion of the building, which to a large extent has been added to from time to time. When the last news reached town it was very doubtful whether the beautiful new recreation ball opened quite lately would ba saved. The patients were all got out of the way directly the alarm was given, and no panic has occurred among them. Much might have been done to save the place had the people at the Asylum sent in full information at once by telephone, when they found they were unable to cope with the fire themselves. Two fire brigade engines were sent out, but no request was made for the much more powerfullrailway engine, which did not get to work on the scene of action till past 12 o’clock. The other two engines were got out within half-an-hour, and forthwith taken to the River Heathcote, which fortunately runs close behind the Asylum, so that there was plenty of water available. 2.45 p.m.

The fire at the Asylum was got under by 1.15 p.m. The central hall was saved. The western wing, the women’s department, was gutted, moat of the damage being in the upper story, where the fire began. It seems that at 8.30 a.m. the chimney took fire, and was supposed to have been put out. At 10.45 a.m. fire broke out in the attic above C Ward, through which the chimney passed. The attendants were unable to subdue it, and it is stated that the fire prevention appliances were not all ia good order. There are no insurances. Twelve months ago an Insurance Company submitted a price to the Government, but it was thought too high. A great deal of furniture, &0., was saved, but a considerable portion was lost. Arrangements have been made for lodging the inmates, all of whom are safe in the old immigration barracks at Addington. 8 p.m. The fire at Sunnyside was practically extinguished by 3 o’clock. The city fire engine Deluge was the first to play on the fire from an adjoining creek, about half an hour after the alarm. Half an hoar later still the railway which had been telephoned for, go£ T ah underground :tahk in front’of thie building.’ Ten'minutes after the other city enginegot inte rlay. A strong ;N;E. wind.rendered the work of the firemen .difficult,'but they actedT with the greatest gallantry, as did the men from the Addington -workshops.'’-' ’■ The fire began in an attic over C Ward, When the roof fell a hole was observed in the chimney passing through it, anditia supposed that sparks found their way through this chimney, which caught fire about 8.30 a.m., but it was supposed to have been extinguished. The arrangements in the Asylum for the prevention of fire appear to have been defective. There is a hand fire engine at the Asylum, but’ it is not powerful enough ; no use was made of it. The fire-boxes were not of. much greater service. One was discovered to be full of blacking, another was empty, but locked and keyless. The whole of the upper portion ol the female department ia burnt out, the-roofing, windows, doors, etc., are consumed, while the upper floor is, in most places, destroyed. The damage to the lower fiat is mostly by water. The portions burned or otherwise damaged are known as Wards A, B, C, D. The administrative block (Dey’s contract), which was opened lately, has escaped with the exception of a new dormitory on the female side. The female attendants’ dining room is gutted. The beautiful hall which was only recently opened has escaped with a soaking, and the organ therein has escaped uninjured. All the furniture in the lower portion of the building was got out, bat everything in the upper portion of the building was destroyed, and the female attendants are reported to have lost most of their clothing and belongings. A few things from the upper portion of Ward A were, however, salvaged. It is to the credit of the Gas Company’s men that they were the first to arrive from town, and turned off the gas, which endangered a porticn of the buildings. The value of the part of the buildings burned is variously estimated, bat it is probably a little less than £12,000. The wing gutted was two-storied, of concrete, with slate roof. A part was built 13 years ago, and the newer portion 9 years ago. There were no partitions in the upper portion. Naturally the patients are a source of the most terrible anxiety when a tire occurs at an asylum. It is satisfactory to relate that in this instance no pauio occurred, and that the patients were got safely away Avithont a mishap. There were 230 in number, and they were safely stored away in the laundry across the lawn. The men’s ward was not attacked. In the confusion and excitement the. head attendant was in great uncertainty as to the fate of all the inmates. Two were missing, for a time, but at last complete assurance came of the safety of every one. This fortunate result is due to the cool, unselfish way in which the attendants, particularly the women, did their duty at the trying time, in face of the disturbing fact that several of them had lost their all. Arrangements have been made for tern-

pararily housing the female patients in the old immigration barraons at Addington. The people living in the neighbourhood were also prompt in their offers of assistance, and plenty of accommodation was ready and waiting. With regard to the defects in the fire prevention appliances at Sunnyside, Dr McGregor reported on March 15, 1887, that the result of a trial of the appliances was “ very impressive, confirming in every respect the condemnations so frequently expressed in the official reports of Colonel Lean, the Deputy-Inspector.” Under date of April 16, 1888, Dr McGregor says “ The most urgent wants at present are the effecting of proper precautions against fire, so often urged by the vigilant Deputy-In-spector, Colonel Lean.”