FIRES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19903, 24 September 1926, Page 10

FIRES.

OUTBREAK ON RACECOURSE ADDINGTON GRAND STAND BURNT. BUILDING TOTALLY’ DESTROYED. (Peb United Pbess Association.) CHRISTCHURCH. September 23. Between 5 and 6 o’clock this morning the grandstand In the public enclosure of the Metropolitan Trotting Club’s ground at Addington was totally destroyed by fire, the flames having such a hold by the time the fire brigade arrived on the scene that the saving of any portion was hopeless. Fortunately, there was no wind to carry the flames to an adjoining stand, which was scorched by the heat. When just before 5 a.rn. the caretaker discovered the outbreak in the grandstand, which is the one nearest to the Addington show grounds, it was well alight, the flanrns having spread over almost the whole portion. Operations had just been commenced to extend the stand, aaj} the builder (Mr M'Gillivray) had a good deal of timber on the job. Much of this timber also was soon ablaze. The Christchurch Fire Brigade received the alarm at 5.6 a.m., and three engines, including two motor pumps, were rushed to the scene. Unfortunately, at the railway crossing at Lincoln road there was a hold-up, as a long goods train was at the time proceeding over the crossing, and for three minutes the firemen waited before they could get across. On arrival it was found that the flames had enwrapped the grandstand'from end to end. Two leads of hose of 1000 ft each were run to the lake on the course, but ihe brigade could do little so far as the grandstand was concerned. The grandstand, which was of wood with an iron roof, was insured for £3OOO, the insurances being divided between the National Fire Insurance Company (£600), the South British Insurance Company (£600), and the Commercial Union office (£1800). Much of Mr M'Gillivray’s timber was destroyed, and the adjoining i ’ and was damaged to the extent of about £lO. Some years ago the grandstand was destroyed by fire while a trotting meeting was in progress. FURNITURE FACTORY BURNT. CONTENTS A TOTAL LOSS. (Per United Press Association.) WAIPUKURAU, September 23. Fire at midnight gutted the furniture factory of R. Staines and Co. The building, which was about 60 years oici, was insured for £l5O iu the Alliance office, and was owned by J. W. Harding, Mount Vernon. There was a small insurance of £l4O on the machinery and £llO on the sto-.-k. Nearly everything was destroyed or seriously damaged. Coincidently Inspector Hugo was in town, and had sounded the practice alarm earlier in the evening. Tho brigade was promptly on the scene, and the n axiinnm pressure of 601 b was available.