DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT SCOHL LAR AND CHISHOLM'S FACTORY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13545, 19 March 1906, Page 5

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT SCOHL LAR AND CHISHOLM'S FACTORY.

DAMAGE NEARLY £2000. Shortly before half-post. 8 o'clock on. Saturday night it was discovered that Messrs Scoullar and Chitholm's furniture factory in llnttrny sl.rcot was on fire. Mr Thomas Chisholm (son of Mr Robert Chisholm) and Mr Charles Speight were proceeding to Roslyu in llic car leaving town at 8.25 p.m., and when passing the factory Mr Speight noticed the flames. Along with Mr Chisholm !so effected an entrance into the building, where the firm's lire hose was sought out and speedily brought into use. A 6 a. result of this timely effort the progress of the flames, which bad a strong bold in the cabinctmalting department on the first floor, was considerably checked before the arrival of the brigade. Captain Mitchell and his men soon put in an appearance. They were telephoned for from the. boarding-house next door, and within 10 minutes they were- ready to commence operations. The men found some difficulty in subduing the flames, as they encountered don?e volumes of smoke while making their way about the building, but they stuck to their task manfully. The flames had spread into the second storey, where there is Mother cabinetmaking shop, and Captain Mitchell also directed some- strong jels of water into this quarter. Mr Robert Chisholm. who arrived on (he scone at an early hour, advised Captain Mitchell to l-ake all steps in bis power io prevent the flames from reaching the machinery department, and with this end in view the men worked gallantly to confine the flames to the cabinetmaking rooms. Tlio supply of water was excellent, and the flames were at last gut, well under control. Then an unexpected difficulty was met with. Above the second storey ceiling, and Mow the. roof, is a "monkoy" room, in which was stored a large quantity of flock, kapok, straw, and flax. This inflammable material had been smouldering for some time, causing thick- smoke to find its way below. How to get at the burning mass was a work of no small magnitude, involving not a little (lunger. One of the firemen faced the difficulty. He managed to roach the roof, and with a stout hatchet he cut a way through l:he corrugated iron, his success being greeted with cheers by a large crowd of people who were watching the proceedings. Water was then poured in, and all danger from this source, removed. The firemen had a hard fight with the fire for over an hour, and it was half-past 11 before they thought it safe to leave the premises. Mr Chisholm says that the manner in which the members of the brigade—l 9in number—fought (lie fierce flames in a building of the kind was a marvel to him. At one time he did not expert that they would be ablo to save the machinery department. It is duo to the brigade, Mr Chip-holm adds, that he should say he considers they did excellent work. ' .

An inspection of the premises yesterday showed that the fire was confined to the cabinetmaking departments and the flock room. Fortunately, flic bedding department, as well as the machinery department, has escaped. Tho machinery having been saved, the firm will not. experience my srroat difficulty in continuing to manufacture as heretofore, and it is not anticipated thai any hands will be thrown out of work, oven temporarily. Messrs Speight, and Co. kindly offered the firm the w of a portion of their extensive premises. Mr Chisholm believes, however, that'accommodation can 1)6 found for the workmen in his own premises ljntil the factory is reinstated.

The orisin of the fire is a complele mystery. It undoubtedly broke out in the cabinet shop on the first floor, but iho cause of tho outbreak is unknown. It is the usual custom en Saturdays to take out the shavings, and onco ovcry three months or so to remove the Iwnchns and jive tho place a thorough overhauling Tho latter course was adopt"d on Saturday mornine. When Mr John M'Peakc, foreman of the factory, left, shortly after noon everything appeared to l>e safe, and when Miss Hesford, daughter of the engineer and caretaker, passed the factory at 8 o'clock there was no sign of fire, The damage i 9 estimated at between £1501) and £2000. A severe loss the firm sustains is in its stock of patterns, which hare been accumulating for over 30 years. These are nil gone. Some of the workmen lost their tools, which were uninsured. The following aw the firm's insurances:—

On the building: Nonrioh Union, £250; Royal Exchange, £150;' Standard, £250; Liverpool and London aiid Globe, £250;— total, £900. On the machinery: Norwich Union, £250: Liverpool and London and Globe, £250; Alliance, £175;— total. £675. On the stock: Alliance. £75; Royal Exchange, 150; Phoenix, £1250:—total, £(7,5. The total insurance is £2050. The build--111°;, stock, and machinery are insured to about half their value.