FIRES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14386, 2 December 1908, Page 5

FIRES.

OUTBREAK IN A CARRIAGE • : . FACTORY. Prompt action and good organisation on the part of 'Huporiniendent Mitchell and the Dunedin Fife Brigade provented a serious fire, in the city yesterday morning. At about 11 minutes to 5 o'clock two milk vendors, ' K. Knifo : and TV.'Bond, rushed into'the station and gave the alarm of a fire jn Stuart street. The brigade turned out immediately the summons was received, and in the; space of less than two minutes the fire-fighting 'appliances wore on the scene, winch proved to be the carriage .factory .in , v Stuart , street carried on. in tho name of J. Robin and Co. by Messrs W. 'J. Birrell, E. A. Davys, and J. Cuttle. ' Tho building is an old ono-ono'of the oldest wooden buildings remaining ill the city. In the early days it was known as St, George's Hail, but for many years past has- been used as a factory in connection with J. Robin and Co.'s business. .When the brigade arrived on the scone. the : fire had a strong hold in tho top corner, . having originated in the ground floor in a compartment which is used as an office,and6tore room. The flames speedily worked (heir way through the weatherboard walls and continued their devastating progress up tho outside to' tho upper storey. ' This was the problem with which Supermtendent.Mitchell and his mon were faced when they came upon the scene. The whole structure was dry as tinder, and inside was a very valuable stock. So prompt however, - was action taken, and so completely was the situation summed up, by those in charge of operations, that tho fire was extinguished before it had practically done more fan demolish tho eontents of the room in which it had originated, lho weather-hoarding of the wall at tho seat of tho fire was certainly burnt through and the flames licked their way on tho outside to the upper storey, tho zinc roof being melted with the heat. Immediately over the scene of tho fire, howover, was a room'jn which were stored 16 buggies and Bishop Verdon's carriage. The ctforts of tho brigade were crowned with success before any of the buggies had suffered tho slightest damage, and oven the Bishop's carriage, which was within threo feet of the burning wall, only received a severe scorching on' the fireward side. Not only was the fire subjugated before it had got a firm hold, but this was accomplished without material damage to the stock in tho unaffected parts of the- factory—a performance .that .is greatly lo tho credit of the brigade. Tho combined office and stqre room were, of course, completely gutted, but. the fire was pregnant with great.-possibilities. The damago to the budding is estimated at about £50, and that to tho stock at about £200. The* building, which belongs {o Mr J. Robin was insured- in the National Office for £330, and'the stock, tho property of tho occupants (Messrs Birrell, Davys, and Cuttle, was-covered by a policy for £330 with the Guardian, tho office furniture was insured, for £15 with tho 'Australian Alliance No idea can be gleaned of tho cause- ol tho outbreak. No fire or lamp was in the room, and Mr.Birrell, who locked up a,t 5.40 p.m. o.n Monday, does not. smoke, ,

At 10 o'clock on Monday nip-lit a fire broko out in a fowlhouso in.Elgin road, Morning-ton. There was a chicken-brooder in the place, and the explosion of the lamp which keeps the temperature up was tho probable cause of tho outbreak. The shed was gutted.