THE FIRE IN HIGH STREET.

Otago Witness, Issue 2663, 29 March 1905, Page 54

THE FIRE IN HIGH STREET.

A fi.ro broke out early on Saturday morning last in the back part of Messrs Butterworth Brothers' premises, placing an important /fejook of biiildings and veryvaluable stocks "n considerable jeopardy. It originated in the delivery platform at the rear of the packing room. This is an i iron lpan-to, approached by the lane leading j from High street to Kennedy's Bond, ana is open at one end to permit carts backing in to receive their loading. At one end of the platform wers several old cases containing "Id paper and other packing material. The fire broke out on that platform amongst the- cases, and burned through the large door giving access to the packing room. It seems as if the flames had also got into the packing room under the iron roofing at the eaves. The packing room is a brick building, one storey high, lined half-way up the walls with matchboard, and contained plenty of material easy >to ignite. It adjoins tho main building, which is four high, and is shut off by an iron door of substantial construction. A ramp loads from the level of the packing room to the basement floor of the warehouse. i and down this <x, considerable amount of I water found its way when the firemen were playing on the burning mass, but successful efforts were made to keep back the water by placing sacks to stop its ingress. Constable Ferguson first gave the alarm to the brigade from a Maclaggan street indicator, ' and on its arrival a mastery of the James

j was soon obtained. Fortunately, John. ; Williams, Messrs Butterworth's packer, is , a member of the brigade. He was amongst the early arrivals on tha- scene, and from the information he was to give, Captain Mitchell knew where best to direct the labours of the firemen. In a corner within a few- yard.° of the entrance to the packing room from the warehouse a goods lift is carried from basement to the top storey. If the flames had reached that dangerous corner the lift shaft would have acted like a flue to carry the flames to every floor. Luckily the fire was confined to the "packing room, but the flames were so fierce for a time that many window panes in the upper floors of the main building were cracked, and also those in the. D.I. C. building giving light to the workroom^, so that the building; was for a. while in jeopardy. The back premises in thi, neighbourhood lie in a hollow, consequently the basement floor of the D.I.C. premises was flooded to a slight extent. Mr G Crow, the manager, heard the fire alarm when in bed at home, and hastened to High street. By prompt action he was able to keep back the inflow of water and remove some parcels of good 3 lying near the back door. Mr Crow says that £20 will cover the damage to IXLC. pronerty. John Williams, the packer for Messrs Butterworth Brothers, carefully inspected the packing room and delivery platform at 5.30 p.m. on Friday at the request of Mr Anderson, the manager, and found everything quite safe. It has been suspected for some time that loafers have been ire the habit of using the well-sheltered platform as a "doss-house", and it is probable that one of these unwelcome visitors started the fire. The packing room and its contents were fully insured, the building for £500 in the London and Lancashire, and the stock for £2000 in the Sun office. The Fire Brigade is entitled to great credit for fch-e manner in which it carried out its duties.