FIRE AT ROUGH RIDGF.

Otago Witness, Issue 2675, 21 June 1905, Page 18

FIRE AT ROUGH RIDGF.

At an early hour on Wednesday morning a fire was discovered in one of the workshops of Messrs Hay-as and Sons, the wellknown firm of inventors, at Rough Ridge. Dense smoke was seen issuing from the roof of the building by Mr B. Hayes, who quickly gave the alarm. Fortunately a plentiful supply of water was at hand, but the smoke was so dense that it was difficult to approach the seat of the fire.' By dint of perseverance the fire was got under control, but not before one of the blastfans was entirely destroyed ; and part of one of the forges, some heavy frame-work, and several belts were partly consumed. One heavy cast-iron wheel, weighing a quarter of a ton, was red with the heat on the side nearest the fire. It is thought that the fire originated through the heavy wind during the previous night blowing sparks from the smouldering fire up the blast fan airtube on to the woodwork at the back. An automatic valve in the blast air-tube would effectually prevent anything of the kind happening again. It was very fortunate that the fire was got under control qiiickly, as the firm has various kinds of machine repair work on hand, which would have been indefinitely delayed if the outbreak had been more serious. In all probability three or four days will suffice to get things into working order again.

Urgent to school two urchins sent, The truant played, and fishing went? J)ne caught it hot, his pants were thin; One caught a cold, for he fell in; The oold grew worse, and caused alarm, Till some Sjind neighbours brought a charm. A charm it proved that did endure, They called it WftOfiS' Gbeat PeppebmikX