FIRES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3898, 27 November 1928, Page 24

FIRES.

A SPECTACULAR BLAZE. MASTERTON, November 20. A spectacular fire was witnessed in Masterton to-night, when a large wooden building owned by Mr H. H. Daniell was burnt to the ground. The structure stood on a section adjacent to the town but there were no other buildings in the vicinity. The brigade' was helpless, as the fire had ,a strong hold when the alarm was given. The building -was used for storage purposes, but the exact nature of the contents is not known. The insurances are not ascertainable to-night. MACHINERY EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED. -AUCKLAND, November 21. Damage estimated at £4OOO was caused by a fire at midnight in a barrel factory in Gillies avenue, Auckland, next to the Newmarket School. The factory, which was owned by P. G. Wolfe, of Onehunga, and constructed of concrete blocks and iron, was stacked with completed barrels, and many others in course of construction ; and also contained much dry timber. The principal item of loss was valuable machinery, which was totally destroyed,, and was worth over £2OOO. The building and contents were insured in the Royal and South British offices for a total of £3OOO. OUTBREAK IN BUSINESS BLOCK. HAMILTON, November 22. A fire in Main street at 2 a.m. to-day destroyed a fancy goods shop owned by Mr H. H. Howden and the stock, owned by Mr J. M. Monk. Adjoining shops in Howden’s block were damaged. In the Alaska Fur Depot the stocK was damaged by smoke and water. The total loss of all stocks in the building is estimated at

£2OOO. Howden’s shop is insured for £B5O in the South British office, and Monk’s stock for £750 in the London and Lancashire. The Alaska Fur Company’s insurance is not available. A HOMESTEAD DESTROYED. WAI ROA, November 21. Mr R. E. Barton’s homestead at Rukituri was totally destroyed by fire some time this morning. The owner left home at 4 a.m. and returned at noon to find the place in ashes. He is unable to account for the origin of the fire. Ihe building and furniture ■were insured, but the amounts were not avail-’ able. Ihe owner is a heavy loser. MINOR FIRE ON STEAMER. AUCKLAND, November 22. A fire occurred in the chart room of the steamer Woolgar, at the King’s wharf, shortly after midnight. The wireless operator gave the alarm, and the flames were suppressed with the aid of an extinguisher. The damage done was trivial. The cause of the fire is not known. It is thought that it may have been du e to’ incendiarism. HEAVY LOSS OF FLOOR POLISH. CHRISTCHURCH, November 23. A Primus stove exploded and caused a fire which destroyed £250 worth of floor polishing apparatus in the “Lite Work ’’ Floor Polishing Company’s premises at 170 Cashel street this afternoon. One of the employees was engaged unpacking a quantity of polishers and accessories. He had ceased temporarilj to boil water on the Primus stove, which exploded, and the kerosene blazed up. Some of the burning kerosene set fire to the waste in which the goods were packed. Much material was damaged and destroyed be: fore the brigade extinguished the fire with chemicals. BLAZE IN AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND, November 24. A fire which threatened to be of a sensational nature took place on the premises of the Manchester Costume Company in Ruru street a little before noon to-day. The building is constructed of wood throughout, with the exception of the roof. The fire occurred on the ground floor, which is below the road level, and obtained a firm hold, licking up to the second floor and veiling. After half an hour’s hard fight the City Fire Brigade had the outbreak well in hand. The company employs close upon 5Q hands, and these left their work at 10.45 a.m., when work ceased for the week? end. The executive members of the firm, including Mr H. Winters, were in the factory until a little after 11 o’clock, when everything was reported to be in order and the building was locked up as usual. Shortly after they had gone the workroom was in flames, and a passing railwayman gave the alarm. Mr Winters stated that the stock op the premises was valued at well over £5OOO and the machinery at £l5OO. The new season’s samples were under way, and the loss would be hard to replace. He was of the opinion that the losses would run to well over £5OOO in stock and fittings, while the machinery valued at £l-500 was completely ruined. The insurances were not available. DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT £14,000. AL’CKLAND, November 25. The damage to the Manchester Cos. tume Company’s factory is now estL mated at over £14,000. The machinery and stock are valued by Mr A. F. M‘Arthur, managing director, at £2500 and at least £9500 respectively, while it is estimated that the building suffered to the extent of about £2OOO. The insurances, which are all with Lloyd’s, were:—£looo on the plant and machinery, £BOOO on the stock, and £4500 on the building. A large annexe which escaped damage and a spacious rear room which suffered chiefly from smoke and water will be installed -with about 18 machines, and Mr M'Arthur anticipates that the employees, 40 of whom are girls, will be back at work by Wednesday. FIRE AT POULTRY FARM. A fire occurred on the poultry farm of Mr D. R. Rowlands, of Awamoa, resulting in the destruction of the buildings, 400 chickens, five brooders, and accessories. Mr Rowlands, who had been attending the chickens, is unable to account for the fire. As the buildings had recently been tarred, they were quickly destroyed. They were insured for £llO in the 1.0 A.. office, but the contents, which were valued at £2OO, were not insured. Mr Rowlands is therefore a heavy loser.