FIRES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3802, 25 January 1927, Page 50

FIRES.

INDUSTRIAL HOME GUTTED. AUCKLAND, January 18. The main building of the Salvation Army’s Industrial Ho? .e, providing accommodation for about 40 -. men, situated in Williamson street, One Tree Hill, close to the junction of the Great South road and Manukau road, was completely gutted by fire shortly after 3 o’clock this afternoon. The fire broke out in a lean-to kitchen at the back of the premises. The chimneys were swept immediately after lunch, the fires being extinguished. Before leaving, the sweep lit a fire in the kitchen, remarking: “I’ll see how she goes.” About 15 or 20 minutes later - the cook observed that , the room was filling with smoke, and on looking up saw flames coming through cracks in the wall above the mantelpiece. He dashed a bucket of water on the wall and then ran to give the. alarm. The flames spread with amazing rapidity through the building, which is an _ old wooden one of two storeys and contained 10 rooms, including one large dormitory with 17 beds. When the brigade arrived flames and smoke were pouring from practically all the ..windows. The building is close to the boundary of the One Tre Hill and Remuera districts, which are divided by the Great South road, but the call was first sent by telephone to the Parnell Brigade. It was then sent to the Remuera Brigade, arid both brigades turned out. A little later an alarm box on the Remuera side of the Great ■ South road was broken, and an engine was then sent out from the city fire station. When the brigades arrived, however, they found that the fire was in the One Tree Hill district, which is provided with fire plugs smaller than standard size. The hydrants of the three brigades are of standard size, and would not fit the plugs. Fortunately, the Parnell ' Brigade had a double hydrant of smaller size, and from this two leads of hose were played on the flames and brought the fire under control in a short time. The fire had such a good hold when the brigades arrived that the result would have been practically the same had more leads of hose been available The One Tree Hill Brigade receivea a belated call some time later and arrived - n the scene when the fire had been extinguished. The interior of the building was gutted, but the walls remained standing. Almost the whole of the roof was burned through, and all the furniture, including blankets and bedding, was destroyed. At the tune of the outbreak there were only four or five persons in the building, most of the occupants being fortunately absent at work. The problem of providing accommodation for the men who occupied the rooms in the main building caused the authorities of the Salvation Army some concern today. but it was thought that room would be fount for .lost of them in the meantime in the annexes, which are usually occupied by about another 30 men. The destruction of the bedding and blankets, however, made the position more difficult, and fresh stocks are urgently needed. The building was insured. BARLEY STACKS DESTROYED. BLENHEIM, January 18. Children playing , with matches set fire to two large stacks of barley, valued at £2OO, the property of Mr Stan Jellyman, at Rapaura. The stacks were totally destroyed, and there was no insurance on them-FIVE-ROOMED HOUSE DESTROYED. .CHRISTCHURCH, January 18. A five-roomed house at Kaiapoi, owned and occupied by J. M'Allister, was totally destroyed by fire at midday, to-day. The occupants were away at the time. It is supposed- that the fire started from the kitchen fire, which was left burning. The house was insured for £l5O with the Victoria Company, and the contents for £152 in the State office. JOINERY BUILDING DESTROYED. AUCKLAND, January 19. The joinery works of Mr, J. R. Simpson at the Greenland railway station were destroyed by fire early this morning. The building was of wood and a stack of timber in the yard was also destroyed. At the rear of the building was a heap of sawdust and shavings, and it is thought that the fire. may have been caused as the result of this being set alight by a spark from the engine of a passing train. The factory and contents were insured with the South British Company- for £l5OO. At one stage two of the wooden poles supporting the power wires caught alight, but these minor blazes were scon subdued. There was, however,'danger that some wires running above the flames would break, but the spectators pressing forward for a close view of the conflagration ignored this risk; arid happily the cables: hold, o it, -.s '

DRAPERY FIRM’S LOSS. CHRISTCHURCH, January 20. Damage which is estimated at some thousands of pounds was caused by a fire this afternoon at 'the premises of Blackwells (Ltd.), at the corner of High and Raven streets, Kaiapoi; The fire, started in the workroom of the dressmaking- department on the first floor/ and is ; supposed to have been caused by the accidental overheating of an electric iron. l7 The fire had a good hold when the alarm was given, and the firemen were hampered by. dense smoke. The dressmaking workroom and the furnishing department on the top floor were badly damaged by fire and water, and extensive damage was also caused by water to the millinery, mantle, and clothing department on the ground floor. The. building is insured in the London and Lancashire Insurance Company for £11,500, and the contents for £12,000 in the same office. A CHRISTCHURCH OUTBREAK. 3 CHRISTCHURCH, January 20. The two rear rooms of a six-roomed house in Patton street, Avonside, with their contents, and a washhouse and bathroom attached, were destroyed by fire shortly after 1.30 a.m. to-day. The house was owned and occupied by Charles Edward Roach, senior sergeant of police ’ at Christchurch. The fire originated in the washhouse and spread to the rear of the main building, 'destroying the two back rooms. The two front rooms and their contents were saved by the brigade. The cause of the outbreak is unknown. The house was insured in the State office for £BOO and the contents for £350. TWO SHOPS DESTROYED. TE KUITI, January 21. . Two shops occupied by Mrs M. Gascoigne, restaurant-keeper, and A. C. Mercer, tobacconist, were almost completely destroyed by fire at 4 o’clock this-morning. A boarder sleeping in a detached building at the back of the restaurant noticed the fire and gave the alarm. The fire had a good hold on the buildings, which were old and very dry, and they burnt fiercely. The upper storey of the building next door, occupied by A. W. Deliy, confectioner, was scorched, but the efforts of the brigade and the absence of wind prevented the fire spreading. Mercer’s stock, insured in the National office for £425. was a total loss. Gascoigne’s furniture and effects were insured in the State office for £450. In addition Mrs Gascoigne lost £ICO in cash which was kept on the premises. She had a narrow escape in her night attire. The buildings, which were reduced to a charred shell, were owned by E. Gough, builder. The insurances were not available. OUTBREAK AT TAUMARUNUL , TAUMARUNUI, January 21Fire last night destroyed a four-roomed residence and outbuildings owned and occupied by A. Venn. No water was available and the brigade could do nothing. The cause of the fire is unknown. The insurances on the house were £3OO in the State office and on the furniture £2OO in the Southern Union office. ■, BLAZE AT WAIPUKURAU. WAIPUKURAU, January 21. At about 3 o’clock this morning a sevenroomed boarding house and contents at Waipukurau, occupied by Mrs M. Wall, were completely destroyed by fire. The building was owned by the trustees in the estate of the late Rupuha Tehianga, and was valued at about £l2OO. It was insured in the State office for £B5O. OUTBREAK AT LEVIN. LEVIN, January 21. " A fire occurred to-day by which a sevenroomed house owned by Mr John Ryder, and occupied by Mr Charles Redfern, was destroyed, with its contents. Mr Redfern, with his family, went to Foxton in tile morning and no one was in the house when the fire broke out. When discovered the flames had a good hold and it was impossible to' save any of the contents. The owner and the lessee are both absent from town, and the insurances are not available.