FIRES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19255, 20 August 1924, Page 7

FIRES.

WOOLS TON TANNERIES. BIG PORTION DESTROYED. THIRD OUTBREAK THIS YEAR. (Pee United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH. August 19. A fire to-night destroyed the felhnongeiy shed and the tan bark shed .at the Wooiston Tanneries, this being the third tiro there this year. The previous outbreaks were in January and April. Large quantities of glueoose, oil, skins, wool, and other commodities were lost. The only parts of the huge promises that have now. not been touched by tire are the glove and hide departments. . Since the previous outbreaks the existing buildings have been used for storage purposes, and at present it is not possible to say accurately what has been destroyed. The insurances amount to a large sum, but. this was not available at a late to-night. BLAZE IX AUCKLAND. SEVERAL OFFICES DAMAGED. (Pea United Press Association.) AUCKLAND. August 19. A lire occurred in Wright’s buildings, a five-story brick structure in Fort street, at 2 o’clock this morning, and resulted in the greater part of it being gutted. The stock , of Speddings (Ltd.), general merchants, was considerably damaged by fire and water, and the offices of the Charles Haines A diverRising Agency were burnt out. Tn© offices damaged included tho London and Lancashire Company, tho Health Department, and the National Mortgage and Agency Co. The building was owned by A. B. Wright (Ltd.). Other premises damaged by the fire were Robertson and Polsen (insured for £350 in the New Zealand Office), R. C. Pestles (produce broker), and Donald M'Leod (sharebroker). The insurance on Spedding’s stock Is £750 with the South British Company. The insurances on the buildings total 621,200, made up as follows: £12,000 in the New Zealand Office; £6500 in the United; £2OOO in the Sun Office; and £7OO m the London ami Lancashire Office. TEN-ROOMED HOUSE GUTTED. OCCUPANTS’ NARROW ESCAPE. (Pee United Press Association.) I PALMERSTON NORTH, August 19. 1 An outbreak of fixe occurred early this I morning in a 10-roomed house in Park road I occupied by A. J. Taylor. The building was gutted, and the occupants had a nairow escape. Two of the daughters wye , somewhat dazed by smoke, and had difficulty ! in locating the -window; but their brother -; plunged through the flames and managed j; to get them to safety. Tho building was I. insured for £1350 and the contents for £4OO. i AGED COUPLE’S NARROW ESCAPE. (Pee United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August 19. * Mr and Mrs Jackson, an aged couple, bad a narrow escape from being burnt alive in a fire at Eastbourne. The fire started near the oil stove and the house was quickly in flames. Assistance’ came and Mr Jackson, who was bedridden, had to be rescued through the window. ' FOUR-ROOMED COTTAGE DESTROYED. On Friday night a four-roomed cottage at Kakapuaka, occupied by Mr and Mrs Jonathan Sarginson and family, and owned by Mr David Dalian. Kakapuaka, was totally destroyed by lire. A passec-hy noticed the place to be on fire at 9 p.m., ;and 20 minutes later it was reduced to ashes, together with the contents. Fortunately no one wan in the .bouse at the time, 3-1 r and. Mra Sarginson (who are well known as musicians) had gone- to Glenomaru to furnish the music for a ball there, and the children were with a relative at Romahapa. They lost everything in the fire, and Mr Sarginson specially regretted the loss of a war medal. The origin of the outbreak can only be conjectured, and it probably arose froin a fire that was left burning in the kitchen when Mrs Sarginson left in tho early evening for Glenomaru. There was an insurance of £250 on the furniture in the Alliance Office, and £2OO on the house in the Farmers’ Union Mutual. The cottage was located on what used to bo known as tbe poultry farm at Kaka- . puaka, and was a fairly old building.