FIRES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19407, 17 February 1925, Page 8

FIRES.

k DESTRUCTIVE OUTBREAK. MOTOR OARAGE DESTROYED. DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT £SOOO. (Pbr United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, February 16. A fire at Turua neat Thames, on Saturday evening totally destroyed Mr Charles Bedford’s motor garage, on the main Hauxaki road, and contents (including six motor cars). The damage is estimated at at least ’ £SOOO. Mr Bedford was in the garage about 9.30 O’clock, cleaning the petrol tank of his car. | He had as a light a portable electric lamp protected by a wire screen, end connected to a switch by a long cord. He placed the lamp on a box, and was moving away when he tripped over the cord, causing the lamp to fall and break. A loud explosion followed, presumably through the ignition of benzine. Mr Bedford was thrown forcibly through ■ Ahe door. By the time he had recovered from the severe shock he sustained, the garage and contents were enveloped in (lames. No water supply was available, and nothing could be done to chock the progress . qf the fire. It is understood that all the property excepting one van was insured. HOUSE DESTROYED AT SPREYDON. OCCUPANTS’ HASTY EXIT. With scarcely time to gather a few personal effects, a Spreydon family (says the Lyttelton Times) had to make a hasty exit in night attire from their home, which was destroyed by fire early on Sunday morning. It was a nine-roomed dwelling at 28 Domain terrace, and the owner and occupier was Mr John Smith, builder. At the time of the outbreak the occupants of the house Were Mrs Smith, a son aged 19, 'and throe younger boys, aged 14, seven, and nine. Mrs Smith retired at 11 p.m., when evorvThing was safe, but she was awakened about ■ : midnight by what she described later as a roaring noise, and she detected the smell of smoke. Sbo proceeded to the kitchen, and found the hall and room full of smoke. The glare of flames could be seen through the ventilator, the fire apparently having a good hold. The three smaller boys were sleeping in a room close to the kitchen, and' the smoke was already filling this portion of the house, when Mrs Smith awakened them, with the assistance of an elder • son. who was sleeping on a verandah, the boys were hurried out of the house. An Incident which occurred during during this - proceeding would have almost a humorous touch If it were not for the danger which beset the principal character. The youngest , boy was assisted to put on an overcoat, and ■tfas told to go out on the lawn and wait for Mrs Simith, but on going into her room in the front of the house immediately afterwards she found that the lad had got into the bed there. Questioned afterwards on this behaviour, his explanation wag that he was sleepy. The insurance on the house was £IBSO in the Alliance office. PICTURE THEATRE DESTROYED. (Per United Press Association.) TAU MARUNUI, February 16. A fire at Ohura destroyed a picture theatre owned by Mr J. Kawlil and the office of Mr W. H. Hughes, solicitor. The insurances are not available. A LOCAL OUTBREAK. A call was received by the City Fire Brigade at 6.15 a.m, yesterday to Garfield xyenuo, where an outbreak had occurred m a house occupied by Mr R. Acton-Adams. : One fcom was damaged slightly through an upholstered chair catching fire. The cause of the outbreak wns attributed to a “live” cigarette coming into contact with inflammable material