FIRE AT KAIKORAI VALLEY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13896, 7 May 1907, Page 5

FIRE AT KAIKORAI VALLEY

ELLIS'S FLOCK-MILL ABLAZE.

A serious fire, whioli might very easily have proved far more destructive, occurred on the promises of Messrs E. Ellis and Co., fkek manufacturers, Kaikorai Valley, last night. 'trade being overtime is being worked daily at the flovkmill, and it was tin? extra spell yesterday that the blaze was discovered. Air Kpliraim Ellis was at work on the flock machine in the main building when, at about a cjuartor to 6 (/clock'Mr Joseph Shuttlcworth came to him and furnished the startling information that the stablo and general store a fen* yards away were afire. There were about six lia ntls available, and a rush was made for ilie blazing outbuildings, kerosene tins being hastily snatchcd up and dipped into the creek. At the fame time the Fire Brigade was summoned and .promptly arrived with a steam fire-engine. Ca.pt. \V. Sinclair and 16 firemen gut. promptly lo work. About 20 minutes after the first discovery of the outhre.il; the flames, which had spread out to a considerable distance, obtained a hold on tlie lean-to at. the corner of the workshop. ami (|uieklv spread to all purls of til? building. Fortunately the steam fireengine woktvl well, and there was a fairly frond supply of water, so that tho hlazo iti the workshop was effectually exiinguislied. 'J ime aik! airain the fire gained a fresh hold atmim; the (lock and other inflammable material, but was mastered on each occasion. ft was found impossible to save any part of the stable or the general store—a wooden building with a corrugated iron roof. The ruins of Ibis place were .still blazing ijt a late hone tet night. But foi 111'" 1 fnet that there was very little wind it is difficult to see how any pr.r!ion of the premise.- could have Iwn .saved. The si'we was well stocked with harness and material incidental to the bits'nefs, and the lcs; of this, together wit.li the less of the stable and the damage to the workshop, is estimated al not less than £3CO. The stable is insured for £60 in (lie Guardian ollico: llu> store is insured in the same otnee for a. like aninitn*: wltil-f Hie insurance on the tlockmill. also in the Guardian, is £3CO. I