EIGHTY-WE YEARS AGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26772, 15 May 1948, Page 6

EIGHTY-WE YEARS AGO

FROM THE FILES OF THE . ©tago 2)aU? • DUNEDIN, MAY 15, 1863. “The alarm bell in the new Tower in Dowling street rang out its first warning note of fire about five o’clock last evening. The fire, it was soon learned, had broken out in the shop of Mr Cragg, wholesale and retain ironmonger, Princes street North; and it was caused by the carelessness of a couple of men who had been sent by the contractor to connect a gas service pipe with a meter.” The Daily Times report adds thht the most likely cause of the fire Was that “the“men had found their job longer than they had expected; and when dark came on, they had not fixed to the pipe the junction which was to connect it with the meter, but they had the end of the pipe open. They obtained a lighted candle, and were busily employed when the gas was turned on at the works. Consequently there came a rush, which instantly ignited at the candle, and in an instant the flame was flaring from the floor nearly to the ceiling. The men (so we are assured) at once bolted.” The report goes on to say that it was difficult to decide how best to attack the fire. After an unsuccessful attempt was made from inside the shop, the fire brigade officer decided to break up the asphalt pave-, ment above the gas pipe, and water was dashed energetically into the hole around the flame to keep the woodwork from burning. “ The gas flame was not extinguished until .Mr Stephen Hutchison, the gas company’s engineer, arrived. He entered the shop,-got a great daub of white lead on his hand, and popped out the flame, at the same time closing the end of the pipe, so as to prevent escape until he had arranged for stopping the flow from the main.”

In a letter to the Daily Times published on the same day, Mr Hutchison offered suggestions to the citizens on the, ways of dealing with gas fires. In conclusion, he said: “Although casualties have invariably preceded the successful launching of all important gas undertakings, yet I trust by the experience obtained, and my being ever at the post of duty, we shall get through the inauguration of gas lighting in Dunedin without further inconvenience.”

“It is by,no means impossible that the expectations which have been generally formed as • to the auriferous character of the comparatively unknown regions in the west and south west of this province will prove to be exaggerated,” the Daily Times comments in an editorial. “ Mir Hartley, the discoverer of the Dunstan diggings, has just returned from one of his characteristic adventurous tours up .the River Waiau, which forms the western boundary of the Southland Province. The result of this expedition may be told in a few words: He found no gold, nor'any indications of a goldbearing country. From 'further conversation we have had with Mr Hartley we are led to think that he much doubts that the West Coast country will be found to be gold-bearing. His opinion, founded on personal observation. is that gold will not. be found much beyond Lake Wakatip.”