DISASTROUS FIRE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2330, 27 October 1898, Page 12

DISASTROUS FIRE.

REID AND GKAY'S MANUFACTORY.

EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED.

LOSS ABOUT £20,000.

COVERED BY IffSUBAKCE.

October 20. One of the most disastrous fires which has occurred in Dunedin for many years past broke out this morning a few minutes before 2 o'clock in the extensive agricultural implement manufactory of Messrs Reid and Gray, a firm well known throughout the colony. A fierce south-west gale was blowing, and in a comparatively short time the fire spread from the pattern shop right through into Princes street, thus completely demolishing the carpenters' department, with its elaborate machinery and tools, and also all the finished goods in the btorerooms in the three-storey building facing Princes street. The Fire Brigade were promptly on the scene, and soon had eight leads of water playing on the fire, but the 'flames were so fierce and the gale so strong that they could do nothing beyond keeping the fire from spread ing to the Crawford street end of the building, and confining it to Messrs Reid and GraySs own premises. The extensive store on tho northern side originally erected for Cargills, Gibbs, and Co., and now occupied by Mr Shacklock, was several times in danger, bxit a timely application of water saved them. As is known, the premises of Messrs Reid and Gray extend from Princes street right through to Crawford street. The portion fronting each street is three-storeys high, while the workshops, etc., are only one-storey. The fire broke out about the middle of the block, and completely destroyed the portion from the centre to Princes street. But little or no damage was done to the Crawford street end of the block. On the f.econd and third floors of the building was stored a number of bicycles and a quantity of finished goods. October 21. The first signs of the fire weie noticed by the constable on duly, and without delay he gave the alarm at the Imperial Hotel indicator. Tho night happened to be an extraordinarily stormy one. The exceedingly unseasonable weather we have been afflicted with for such a long time past seemed to culminate in a cyclonic gale, which blew from the south-south-west, and which roared and rattled through the buildings of the city in an ominous fashion. On \ery windy nights the Fire Brigade is generally on the gui vive, as naturally an outbreak, however small, very soon, under such circumstances, resolves itself into a big "conflagration. On Wednesday night, therefore, when the gale was one of the severest that has ever been experienced here, Captain Mitchell felt a great deal of- anxiety. Although he had retired shortly after 11 o'clock, he found himself unable to sleep, so that when the alarm of fire came, it can well be imagined not many minutes "elapsed before the brigade were clattering through the empty streets in a southerly direction, where a brilliant glare plainly indicated the location of a big fire. Nearing the spot they found that the central part of the voof and the upper portions of the north end of Messrs Reid and Gray's premises were blazing with surprising fierceness. The gale seemed to catch up the flames and spin them along the tops of the buildings like fiery whirlwinds. Captain Mitchell saw he had a big job to tackle. He ran out three leads of water at the Princes street frontage and two at the back, while a hose was trained on to Messrs Shaddock's large building adjoining, which was only separated by a small lane from the roaring mass of flames. Messrs Shacklock's building is a massive stone one, with a composition roof, which is said to be fire-proof j but, as Captain Mitchell said, he "wasn't taking any chances," and a heavy load of water playing up and down the roof kej)t the fiery element from enlarging its area of operations in that direction. On the other side of the burning building Captain Mitchell's efforts were directed to saving the engineers', blacksmiths', and moulders' department, and no less than five leads of water at very high pressure were told off to combat the flames at this point. The fight was a long and arduous one, but at length there were signs of the flames losing a grip of the building, and shortly before 4 o'clock the fire was under command. The firemen, however, were kept at their work unceasingly for hours afterwards, and it was not till about 11 o'clock that they were finally enabled to return to the station. The head officers of Messrs Reid and Gray's firm and several of the heads of ijKe insurance companies refer in the highest .terms to the skill and judgment displayed by Captain Mitchell in combating what was undoubtedly a serious fire. The brigade worked under exceptionally difficult circumstances, and some idea, of the force of the gale may be gained when it is stated that a wind mill standing in Messrs Reid and Gray's yard on the opposite side of the foundry in Crawford street was overthrown, although it had occupied the position it did for some considerable time. When the hoses were playing on the building, moreover, the water, when it emerged from the nozzle, was blown back on the firemen again and again before it reached the buildings. So altogether the task that was involved in getting such a fire under was beset with untold difficulties, and that Captain Mitchell and his men did get it under so well is fully worthy of the laudatory comments of the gentlemen mentioned above. As an instance of the skill and care that were shown, it may be mentioned that the large and valuable plate glass window in the bicycle shop in Princes street was wholly iininjured. The portion of the building destroyed by fire comprises the carpenters' shop, which extends from Princes street three-parts of the way into Crawford street. In front of the carpenters' shop and facing Princes street is the bicycle shop. On the first flat above the carpenters' and the bicycle shops was situated the firm's show room. It extended throughout the whole length of tho building, and in one corner was the pattern-makers' shop, while above this room was a large loft where all sorts of stock was stowed away. The carpenters' shop was devoted to turning out all the woodwork which plays such an important part in the firm's manufactures. It contained wood-working machinery of every description, such as circular saws, planing machines, spoke making machines, drilling machines, etc. All of these were of modern design and of an expensive character, and were driven by a 12-horse power engine, which also met with destruction amidst the consuming elements*

Besides the machinery there was also, 6t> course, in the carpenters' shop agricultural' implements in various stages of construction^ such as chaffcutters, bagger 3, seed sowerey drills, hoers, drays, waggons, etc., etc., and a/ quantity of raw material. In the show room was stocked all the" finished agricultural implements, such as reapers and binders, ploughs, harrows, etc., and over 100 bicycles. An unusual quantity, of special stock happened to be stowed away, here preparatory to being despatched to the Timaru and other shows. As a matter of fact, it was the intention of the firm to send away a quantity of these show goods to* Timaru on Thursday. In the loft above the showroom a large quantity of finished stock was also stowed away. It is somewhat difScult to estimate the loss as yet, but we learn from the head officera of the firm that there was about £3000 worth of stock, including bicycles, in the show room, while the patterns, the whole of which were practically destroyed, were worth about £2000. The stock in the loft was worth between £700 and £800. To form an estimate of the damage done in the carpenters' shop is a more difficult matter. The machinery is, of course, rendered useless, but what the value of the goods in the coiirse of construction was it would be almost impossible to accurately gauge. The bicycles and the £5 or £6 worth of cycle accessories in the bicycle shop were safely removed, but, strange to say, they have. not all turned up. About 40 men were employed in the carpentering department. Theso men kept their own tools there, and of course these were practically all lost. Only one man had his tools insured. The individual losses of the men from this source amount from small sums up to £20. For over 15 years past the firm have made it a point to employ a night watchman. The present watchman, Mr H. Payne, sen., nas been acting in the present capacity for about nine years, and he possessed the fullest confidence of his employers. He has been in the habit of going on duty about 6 o'clock each evening, and his first care is to go round the premises and make sure that the hose leugths which are provided in case of fire are laid out ready for u&e. After that during the night ho makes a tour of inspection at intervals nob greater than two to three hours. He was just about to commence one of theso tours of inspection when the fire took place. He was in the office in Crawford street, whence he always makes a start; and just as he was aboufe to leave his attention was directed by a sharp rap on the window. On going out to pee who it was he met a police constable, who told him the place was on fire. The portion of the premises destroyed were insured in the National Insurance office for the sum of £6800. but the company's- loss will not exceed £600. The company has effected re-insurance with the following offices in an equal proportion :.— New Zealand, Standard, Norwich Union, North C4erman, Commercial Union, North British, South Britinh, Phoenix:, Victoria, and Guardian. It was generally supposed that as a result of the disastrous fire a number of hands would bo thrown out of employment, but this, fortunately, will not prove to ,bo the case. Through the energy of the members of- the firm everything was got into trim during tho day and all hands resumed vrork at 8 o'clock on Friday morning.