BIG FIRE AT LYTTELTON

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16545, 19 November 1915, Page 8

BIG FIRE AT LYTTELTON

WOOL STORE DESTROYED.

HARBOUR BOARDS KEROSENE STOKE DEMOLISHED. Shortly after 1 o'clock, yesterday morning a disastrous lire broke out in the wool store ol the Now Zealand bmppnig Company, situated near No. Y breastwork, at vVcsrt Lyttelton. When the brigade arrived upon tnu soeno (says the Chrisicnureii Press) tno liajnes Had obtained too great a hold to enable tho place to be saved, and in about an hour tne shed, which was about touit long, together with the contents, was completely destroyed. Assistance was given by tne tag Lyttelton and tne drodgo 'i.e Whaica, whose lire appliances were used to prevent mo flames spreading. Fortunately there A - ds a north-cost breeze blowing, which probably saved tho Lyttelton laai'Uour Hoard s So. 1 store from destruction. Ihe brick wall separating the premises of tno Massey-liarr.s Company from tho woolshed way instrumental in saving tho former tMilding. About hall an hour alter tho outbreak a Kerosene store, owned by the Lyttelton Harbour Hoard, situated between the Mew Zealand Shipping Company's wool store and the board's No. 1 store, caught fire, and, with the whole of tho conttnts, estimated at about 4000 cases of bename and distillates, together with a quantity iOt carbide, was destroyed. It is believed that the quantity of wool stored m tho incw Zealand Snrppmg Company's shed was about 500 bales. Fortunately it was only tho beginning of ihe season, or tho quantity ot wool in store would have been much larger, and the Joss proportionately greater. At one time it was feared that the stock of benzine would' explode, and the people in the vicinity were ordered out of tne danger zone, Out happily tho fumes generated by the heat found a safe outlet, and no explosion took place. At 2,30 o'clock nothing remained of the two stores but blackened heaps of debris. The fire was tho biggest that has occurred in Lyttelton tor many years. So grj&iit was tho blazo that the reflection was plainly visible from Christchurch over the hills, which are between 1000 and 1500 feet high. The glare was also visible to tho light- ' keeper at Godley Head and the signalman at Adderley- Head. The New Zealand Shinning Company's wool store was a very largo timber and galvanised iron building, specially designed to handle large shipments of wool and tow, being provided with the most up-to-date woolpresses and other machines. Adjoining tho wool store was another building of similar construction, but somewhat smaller, used by the Maesey-Harris Company as a receiving store for the shipments of their harvesters and cultivators from Canada. Tho Lyttelton Harbour Board's kerosene store was situated at the northern end of the wool store, and was a brick building, separated from the store by the end of a railway siding. A few feet away on the east side of tho kerosene store stands the large grain store of the Harbour Board, which extends eastward until it almost adjoins the stores of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company. Had there been a strong breeze from the southwest or north-west, both of the latter buildings would have been in serious danger. THE INSURANCES. (Peb United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, November 18. The insurances are:—Now Zealand Shipr ping Company—£3ooo, on tho store, £1900 on the machinery, divided among various offices. The company's estimated total loss is £21,000. The Harbour Board lost benzine valued at £250, which is covered by their own' insurance. Mr Nat. Woods lost motor spirits valued at £3000. Particulars as to insurance are not available.