FIRES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3291, 11 April 1917, Page 20

FIRES.

CARTERTON, April 3. The Longbush cheese factory was totally destroyed by lire last night. Incendiarism is suspected. The insurances were htbU on the building. The factory was not opened this season. Some of the machinery had been disposed of. A man named Gustav Hirschbevg has been arrested on a charge of wilfully setting lire to the Longbush cheese factory. „,„,„.„-„„ . ~ , DANIsEVIRIvE, April 3. It is estimated that the loss by the fire at Takaoau to-day, which destroyed six business premises in Mam street, is_£2soo. The blaze occurred at midday, starting apparently at Mr Percy Saunders's butcher's shop, and speedily spreading. Iherc were no water supply and no fire-fighting appliances available, but volunteers rendered what help was possible, and rescued a portion of the contents of some of the places. But for their efforts nothing could have been saved, and at least another six shops would have been endangered. _ ' The places destroyed were occupied by Mr R J Saunders (butcher), Mr Arthur Saunders (draper)—both the property of the former, and insured in the National Ofhco for £7OO, and there was £SOO on Air A. Saunders's stock in the same office—Mr G. 0. Taylor (ciicmist), and Mr R. Stevens's (two drapery shops)—all owned by Mr T. Bird, of Dannevirke, and insured in the National Office for £450. Mr Taylor had his stock insured for £2OO. Mr Stevens's policy expired a few davs ago. Mr Peter Nielsen's motor garage was also destroyed, but the insurances are unknown. The chemist's and butcher's ledgers wore destroyed, _ and little drapery stock was saved.

inst, (savs the Bluff Press), in the person received" a call to No, 8 Onslow street, St. Clair, where it was found that an eightroomed house, owned and occupied by Mr J. A. Ainge, was on fire. The outbreak started in the kitchen, and spread to a bedroom, immediately above, from which it found outlet tb.rou.gh. the- slate roof. The South Duncdin Brigade was in attendance in quick time, and when the Central Brigade arrived shortly aiter the former brigade had a lead of hose h\ operation. A quantity of furniture was removed by spectators, and the brigade also saved some by means of the salvage sheets. The front portion of the house was prafltical'y untouched, and the total damage, it is estimated, will not bo very great. The house was insured for £:SOC nvd the furniture for £IOOO. both in the Kew Zealand office. The superintendent of the City Brigade (Mr Napier) savs there is no doubt that, iho tiro was caused by an electric is or. overheating. This was not the first- occasion on which the brigade had been called out to. attend fires directly attributable, to c'-ecerio irons, and he emphasised thft necessity for the greatest care being excicfeed in home* where electric irons ate usee', especially where there are children.