FIRES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1892, 15 May 1890, Page 24

FIRES.

THE CUMBERLAND STREET FIRE.

There are but few additional particulars obtainable regarding the fire which occurred ou Tuesday night at the mill and factory of Messrs Findlay aud Co. (Limited). A more careful calculation of the loss made by Mr Findlay shows but £500 in excess or the rough estimate made on the night of the fire — that is £20,500 as against £20,000. The origin of the fire still remains unknown, the most probable surmise being that the timber in the vicinity of the boiler ignited in consequence of the continuous heat there, but this theory is not by any means entirely satisfactory. Some of the stacks of timber in the mill yard escaped destruction, and tho timber yard in Castle blreet was never in danger. A slight accident happened to Lieutenant Williams, of the Railway Brigade, who fell through, the. slipping of some timber, and, wag

I hart so as to render it necessary he should be taken home, but his injuries were not serious. The main building destroyed was erected about 15 years ago, and has been constantly occupied. Mr Findlay's approximate estimate ( f the value of the property destroyed is as follows :— Machinery ... ... ... £10,000 Buildings ... ... ... 2,000 Woodware stock ... ... 4,000 Ironmongery stock ... ... 3,000 Ironmongery building ... ... 1,500 Total ... ... ... £20,500 The machinery included three vertical saw frames, four bench circular saws, two tongueing and grooving and planing machines, machines for spoke making, moulding, cleaning off doors, tenoning, morticing, sash moulding, shaping, &c. ; also a band saw machine and a fret saw machine. The insurances are as follow :— ON THE SAWMILL : South British ... ... ... £350 New Zealand ... ... ... 500 Standard ... ... 599 Phoenix ... ... "... 500 Union... ... ... ... 250 Northern ... ... it , 300 £2300 The Standard Company are reinsured to the extent of £250. Besides this amount there is £500 on the ironmongery stock in the South British and £500 in the Phoenix office, these sums making the total insurance on the property affected £3300. We do not include the insurances on the property that was not burnt. As the value is estimated at £20,500, the loss sustained by the owners may be set down at £17,200. Invercargill, May 14. A fire-roomed house at Taringatura, belonging to J. Griffin, has been destroyed by fire. Nothing was saved, the inmates escaping in their night clothes. The house was insured for £100, and the furniture for £50, it is believed, in the South British. Cases continue to be reported of the destructruction of grain by fire in various parts of the province. Two stacks of oats, the property of Mr W. Cumming, Beaumont, were destroyed by fire last week. There was no insurance on the grain.