Fire at the Gas Works.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 5928, 24 November 1890, Page 2

Fire at the Gas Works.

At about 7.45 last evening an alarm of fire was rung on the big bell in Gladstone Road and the alarm was quickly repeated on the smaller bell in Carnarvon street. A large number of people soon assembled in the stroets, several of the churches being enrptied, and there were* loud queries as to where the fire was located. It turned out that there had been an incip'ent fire j at the gasworks, whither a large number of people found their way, though they had not much in the way of sensation provided for them, as the flames ha 1 been promptly checked bofore any claiti.ige of consequence was done. The fire originated through pure accident. In the coal room was stored a great quantity of coal and the weight of this broke down a partition, tho coal then running in and filling up a passage way adjacent to the retorts. The coal which escaped from the coal room rested on the hob bricks of tho retorts and acting aa a conductor of heat set fire to the surrounding woodwork. The man on duty, Mr Madder, called for assistance and in a very short time the fire was extinguished. Had prompt measures not been taken the results might havo been very serious. The employees of the Gas Company with several volunteers then set to work to shovel buck the coal which had fallen and this work lasted till after 11 o'olock.