A SPECTACULAR BLAZE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22203, 5 March 1934, Page 10

A SPECTACULAR BLAZE

BURNSfoE FELLMONGERY EXTENSIVE DAMAGE DONE * One of the most serious fires that has ■ place; around. Dunedin for a number of years occurred at the New Zealand Refrigerating Company's works ; at Burnside early oh Saturday morning, when the fellmongery department, which was housed in a large double-storeyed fcirick'building,- was practically wiped ". ©lit. % vpiehttie outbreak was first discovered at about 2 a.m. the building was blazing fiercely, with flames leaping high into the air, and by the time'the brigade had arrived it was found impossible to aave the building, which contained, besides a large.amount of valuable plant,

many hides which were being treated at the .time. There are naturally many theories, but no definite cause of the fire can be assigned, although men were working in the building until midnight.. The Fire Brigade received the call about 2- a.m., whereupon two machines, one from South Dunedin and the other from Green Island, were immediately j aent to the scene, and shortly afterwards pumps from the Central Station were also put into operation, drawing their supply from the Kaikorai Stream. It was quickly seen that there was no hope of saving "the building, and the efforts of the firemen were centred on trying to minimise the loss as much as possible. It was not until several hours later that the course of the fire was checked.. ' .Seen in the morning light yesterday the fellmongery building presented a desolate sight. The four walls of the .building were left standing, but what had. previously been a well-ordered plant was converted into a mass of charred and twisted ironwork,, and. little remained of the hides except several heaps on the ground floor, which. it may be possible to salvage. It is thought that -'the fire originated in-the top storey, spreading to the bottom the collapse of the roof evidently created a funnel through which the flames roared in spectacular fashion. Officials ! of the company stated yesterday that the fire would not prevent the, carrying on of the fellmongery department, where about 35 men are usually employed, although the portion of the works destroyed would ■ .possibly not be rcbuiltuntil the next slack season. The company's killing capacity has not been in any way affected, , Although the damage will probably Tim into several thousands of pounds its exact extent has not yet been ascertained. The building and contents were r insured in the Christehurch office, of the Assurance Company. %^/'': }y ' : ?"- '■'■■■.^i^' >';y ; ;-.' '■/")'- :/--;■-"".;, : ;■ ,\•■ ■ r TWO HOTELS DESTROYED ":'j-'' : -\,f" : ■■'■<■■ ■•■:*;'■■■■ . ;■!■-■'.■»■;.■:. ■„-. '■.-'■■. > v - y .-.:.. --\ BIG BLAZE AT GREYMOUTH. :;>:-■■ (•■■; y-'\. ••>."'>.'?^ : ■ ■■■"'■■ '■ ■■ "■•• •• j (Pn Umteo Pmm Association.) GREYMOUTH, March 4. A, spectacular fire' in Richmond quay i%-'?>- atarted at 5.45 p.m. in the upstairs portibn of the Oriental Hotel, quickly ai to the Criterion Hotel, which . is adjacent. Both wefe: wooden ,'Btructurei and were completely destroyed., The i former building consisted : of about 10 , rooms and the latter about 14, The Oriental Hotel vWas owned by Mr Andrew Kyle, who is the present licensee, • 'and the Criterion was owned by Miss Rachel Mandl, of Hokitika, the licensee being Albert' Clarke. The fire brigade had* no chance cf " saving the hotels, but kept the fire from, spreading to a number of cottages and the' outbuildings at the rear, and also from a, brick structure,- the Phoenix' ' Chambers, adjoining the Oriental.- , At the wharf fronting the hotels was the ship Te Aroha, whose cargo included •xploMvea and bensSne. The vessel was ■bift*d. A. lartjfc c/owd witnessed the- blaze, which lasted nearly an hour. The iiwnrance on the Criterion build" Lag was £IOOO in the Queensland Office, and the Oriental was insured in the Boyal Exchange,, but the amount is not yH ascertaHable. —-■ '' . LOCAL CALLS • •■: ' • ' •. -' • ' - < The brigade was called out early on Saturday morning by a justifiable false . i corner of Elgin road and English avenue. At about 5-30 on Saturday afternoon a call was, received to '.he ' corner of -Hazel avenue and College street, Cavsrshain, where a hedge fire engaged the attention of the Brigade. Another hedge fire in the same street was attended to yesterday afternoon. No damage wan done on either occasion. ;.••:. - ■:.'. -■. ■.. .' '• ■■■■i': • ■ ■■■:■■ ■ ■ ■ ..■■'■ '