FIRE AT DONAGHY'S ROPEWORKS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2667, 26 April 1905, Page 10

FIRE AT DONAGHY'S ROPEWORKS.

A STORE-ROOM GUTTEI7.

' At an early hour on Thursday we received i information to the effect that a serious fire ! nad broken out at Messrs Donaghy's Rope and Twine Works in Brad-haw street, South Dunedin, and that the company's B store 1 , where large quantities of hemp and twine were stored, ha,d been completely gutted. The main building, containing the offices, engine room, boiler house-, and process works were safe, and the Fire Brigade front .South Dunedin had the fire in hand. The. large store, however, was swept out from end to end by the flames. The fire vraa discovered by the company's night watchman. Ernest Durning, at 20 minutes pa-sfi 12, the flames having then a fairly strong hold. With commendable promptitude Durning, assisted by a man named Wm. Smith and Constable Bolstad. brought tha company's hose into use, and thus kept the flames somewhat in check until the arrival of the Fire Brigade. The origin, of the fire is unknown, but it is thought that tho outbreak was caused by some hemp becoming heated. The store w hiel* contained the hemp and twine vs-as a larg-e one.

April 22.

The damage caused by the fire at Messrs Donaghy and Co.'s rope works in South Dunedin on Thursday morning proved to be much greater than was at first anticipated. The roof of B stoic, to which building the fire was confined, was quite destroyed, and the stock injured by fire, heat, v. afrer, and smoke to a very great €>xtent. Operations at the factory will have to b© suspended for a time owing to the destruction of the fibre which is the raw material used, but orders will be filled as usual from the large stock fortunately left in another store. So far the origin of the fire has not been ascertained. The highest credit is due to the South Dunedin Fire Brigade for the splendid salvage work done. The insurances en the stock totalled £5350. but it was valued at £5770. Tha principal insurance lines were iJ2IOO in the Royal Kxchange Company, £1750 in the South British, and £1000 in the Standard. On the building thea'e was a policy of £500 in the Royal Exchange. The loss is estimated by the management to total about £4-000.