FIRES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3757, 16 March 1926, Page 28

FIRES.

SOFT GOODS DESTROYED. NEW PLYMOUTH, March 9. Fire caused structural damage to and almost entirely ruined the stock of the Now Plymouth Sottgoods Company at 6 o’clock last evening. The origin of the fire is a mystery, as tile premises had been closed only a short time, and everything appeared safe when they were locked up. Three leads of hose extinguished the fire in about 20 minutes The company carries a stock of ladies’ wear, the flimsiness of which makes it highly inflammable. The build* ing, which was saved from total destruction by its concrete and brick walls, is owned by Mr G. R. Colson, end is insured in the South British Office for £I2OO. MOTOR CAR BLAZE. WELLINGTON, March 9. Late 'ast night a valuable nix-cylinder car waa completely destroyed by fire. The driver received* a message from a friend that he had run out of petrol and started to take a supply to him. Apparently the tin was leaking, for at Evans Bay the car burst into flames and was reduced to ■crap iron. TOWN HALL DESTROYED. FOXTON, March 10. A disastrous fire occurred between 2 and 3 o’clock this morning, when the Town Hall and contents, including the Public Library, together with the caretaker’s cottage and contents at the rear, were totally destroyed The fire had a big hold when the alarm was given, and on the arrival of the brigade, the place «ae a seething mas* of flames, fanned by ■ westerly gale,

A dwelling house and the Manawatu Hotel, in the track of the 'flames, had narrow escapes, the former being badly scorched.

The origin of the fire is a mystery, as the hall had not been occupied since Monday last. The hall was constructed of wood and iron, and was erected 15 years ago. It was also used as a public library. The insurances are £4OOO on the building, and £7O on the library.

BIG BUSH FIRE. BLENHEIM, March 10.

A serious bush fire threatened last night to destroy two sawmills, huge stacks of sawn timber, and the cottages of workers. As it was, the residence of one of the mill workers was totally destroyed. The mills are situated in the Tinline Valley of Pelorus, and are owned by Mr W. Carr and the Briant Brothers. Details gathered from a Havelock source state that the fire started yesterday afternoon at about three o’clock on the property upon which the mills stand, and a change in the wind to nor’-west led to the fire getting out of control. Fanned by this heavy wind the flames bore down on the timber mills at the roadside, the bush burning fiercely and sending up great billowing volumes of smoke. The entire staffs of the two mills turned out as a fire-fighting force to do battle with the flames and to protect the building. A whare belonging to Mr Gardiner was damaged by the flames. As darkness fell the battle was still being waged and the fire appeared to have a stronger hold than ever. The fire-

fighters were well nigh dropping with exhaustion, whilst many were overcome with smoke. Fearing that the mills would Le destroyed, as well as the dwellings of 100 people, comprising the settlement, an urgent call for reinforcements was sent out to the surrounding district. With the burning of Coleman’s house all hope of saving the mill itself was practically abandoned, but a lull in the wind inspired the weary men to renewed efforts and the progress of the flames waa at last stayed at seven o’clock this moming. It was fortunate Dr Clymont accompanied the Havelock contingent to the scene for he waa called unon to treat manv cases of burns and collapse. March 11. A destructive bush fire was reported yesterday from Tunakino Valley, which was ablaze from end to end. Yesterday afternoon a call came to Canva&town for men to go to Bryant’s Sawmill at Pelorus Bridge. which was reported to be in imminent danger of being burned, as it was in the path of a bush fire. When the party reached the scene they found that things were not so bad as had been feared, and were not long in saving the situation.

While engaged in U»ia work they received a call from Tunakino, in the Opouri Volley, where fire had broken out and was spreading rapidly on a wide front. The settlers for miles around were boating the flames, but help was urgently needed. The fire was found to be threatening Mr Arthur Hebbard’s house, and a great effort was made to protect it. The fire, however, won. and the house was destroyed. Mr P. Neal’s house was also threatened, but was saved after a strenuous fight. The children of the settlement were sheltered the publio hall.

The fire-fightorr worked till the earlv hours of this morning, and the latest news is that the danger is definitely suppressed.

WOOLSIIED DESTROYED. BLENHEIM. March 11.

Fire at 3 o’clock this morning destroyed the largo wool shed, engine-house, stack of oats, aud stack of bagged peas at Benopai station, Waihopai, owned by Mr W. J. Rudd. The shed was capable of accommodating 1400 sheep and 10 stands ol shearers. The engine-house contained a 10 h.p. Tangye engine and 10 # iAolsey machines. . . . The wool shed contained a quantity ol grass and clover seed, tents, horse covers, a chaffcutter, saw bench, wool press, weigher, and sundry tools. Everything was totally destroyed. The origin is a mystery. The damage is estimated at £2500. Ihe insurances are: On wool shed and enginehouse. £1C00; engine. £135; machines. £135 —all in the Alliance Office

PEAT LANDS ABLAZE. THAMES. March 11. A fire in the peat lands, south of the Patetonga district of the Hauraki Plains, tliat started on Sunday last, has assumed dangerous dimensions and is spreading on a two-mile face towards an area of flax owned by a Christchurch syndicate Reports to hand indicate that the danger is great, and that a change in the direction of the wind may possibly cause the fare to spread on to the farm lands. The Government employees who are fighting the flames, dammed the V\ altnkaruru and Maukoro canal to flood the land, hut apparently the fire has leaped across The long spell of drv weather has dried out the oeat to a great extent, and, fanned by a strong breeze, the fire is not_ onlv burning deeply into the peat, but is tumping ion? distances. ... .. . Another fire is raging near the Waikakn canal. The employees of Firth s flaxmdl were sent out on Monday in an endeatoir to The e pcat fire Which traversed a portion of the Hauraki Plains at the beginning of December last is still burning on some sections near Ngarua road, where the peat is dry to a great depth on account of the nearness to efficient outlet drains. When the fire reached this part last year the peat was comparatively wet, but the buried timber remained burning, and is keeping the fire going as the peat dries. SOUTH DUNEDIN BLAZE. Two shops and seven first-floor rooms in a boarding-house were damaged by fire at 4.5 am. on Thursday at the corner of King Edward street and Bay View road. The blaze started in one of the shops, and quickly spread in the two-storeyed wooden building to the second shop and the upstairs rooms, which were used as the residential quarters of 14 people. The occupants of the rooms were escaping by the stairway when the Central and South Dunedin brigades arrived, and the last boarder was clear of the building only a few moments before the fire obtained a hold in the upper floor. The outbreak badly damaged both shops, while the stocks were ruined by smoke and water. The living quarters were also damaged to a considerable extent. . A good save was effected by the brigades, but the fire had a strong hold of the building, and at times the flames licked across the street, threatening the hotel on the opposite corner. The alarm was given by one of the occupants of the boarding-house shortly after 4 a.m., and the South Dunedin brigade was first on the scene, two leads of hose being in operation when the city brigade arrived. A stern battle with the flames followed, and they were got under control only after the lower portion of the building had been badly damaged. The shops were occupied by Mr Orr Robertson, who is the owner of the building, and who conducted a mercery and boot business on the lower floor. The upper portion was leased to Mrs Silvester as a boarding-house. The contents of the living rooms were not covered by insurance, but the building and shop stocks were insured for a total of £2BOO, made up as follows:—United Insurance Company (Ltd.), £llOO on the building; Royal Insurance Company (Ltd.), £650 on stock in trade and £SO on fixtures and fittings; Victoria Insurance Company, £9OO on stock, £SO on fixtures and fittings, and £SO on machinery and tools. The stock was practically a total loss, while it was estimated that the building was damaged to the extent of about onethird of the insurance covering it, or over £360. LOCAL OUTBREAKS. A fire in a stable in Macandrow road owned by Mr Poison, of Craigieith street. North-East Valley, claimed the .attention of the City Fire Brigade at 9.45 on Saturday night. It was found that some straw w.ia ablaze, but the outbreak was extinguished l>efore much damage had been done. While the brigade was working in the stable a messenger from a house Almost adjoining it reported a fire in the washhouse at the rear of the residence. Damage to the extent of £3 was done to the washhouse, and the value of contents which were destroyed Is estimated at £lO. The house ie occupied hy Mr John Rne. Incendiarism is suspected in both cases. BLAZE AT WAKARI. An eight-roomed wooden residence at Wakari, near Ashhurn Hull, was burned to the ground on Saturday night. The building, whiato was owned l»y Mr E. Pezet, a dairy farmer, was very old, and the flames quickly spread. Shortly after the outbreak started at 7.30 Mr Pezet communicated with the Uoslyn Brigade, which, however, could not render any assistance, os the residence was outside its district The brigade could have done little even If it had been able tc attend the fire, for by the time the three and a-half-mile uphill Journey could have been completed the fire would have become well established. Moreover, there is no water supply in the vicinit yof the house. Mr Peaet lost £3O in notes and a quanttiy of silver, which were kept in one of the rooms. The furniture wa« insured for £175 In the South British Office, and the house was Insured In the State Office for a sum which •t present cannot be ascertained.