EASTERN EXTENSION COMPANY'S' HEAVY LOSS.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13448, 2 June 1914, Page 4

EASTERN EXTENSION COMPANY'S' HEAVY LOSS.

OFFICES AND "THE BUNGALOW"

DESTROYED

THE MAIN QUARTERS SAVED

TEMPORARY SERVICE ARRANGED

At three o'clock yesterday morning a fire occurred at Cable Bay, which destroyed the offices of the Eastern Extension Cable Company and the sleeping quarters known as "Tho Bungalow." The strenuous efforts of the staff saved the old Government quarters and the main quarters of the company from destruction, although, both buildings were badly blistered and scorched by the intense heat.

The persistent barking of "a dog outside the window of a cottage occupied by Mr. Begg, the man on the place, caused him to get up, and he saw the reflection of lire and smoke coming from the basement of the office. At the same time some members of the staff in the main sleeping quarters were aroused. On the alarm being given the whole staff turned but, and efforts were made to extinguish the flames, which had by this time obtained a firm hold, with the aid of fire extinguishers, but without success. A biicket brigade was also formed, and with the aid of the company's water supply further efforts v.-ere made to suppress the fire, but'without result. Some of the fire fighters then directed their attention to saving the valuable instruments located iv tho office, while others commenced removing the furniture and effects from the Bungalow, which is situated at the rear of the offices. With the aid of a ladder Mr V. Harris, one of the cable operators, entered the offices, which were filled with dense smoke, which madesalvage operations extremely difficult. He, however, succeeded in saving one of the valuable recording instruments, which was the only one of the many valuable instruments in the office that was removed. By this time tho heat was so intense and the smoke so thick that further attempts at salvage were abandoned. Apparently iri breaking one of the windows to gain an entrance Mr. Harris cut his right hand so badly that he came into town for medical attention, and Dr. Gibbs found it necessary to put three stitches into the palm of the hand, and two in the wrist. It is possible that Mr. Harris •may lose the use of two of his fingers; in any case he will be incapacitated for some time.

. When it was found to be impossible to save the offices and "The Bungalow" from total destruction, attention was directed to saving the old Government quarters and the main quarters, and this was successfully accomplished with great difficulty by moans of wet blankets and the constant playing of" water oh these buildings. Practically the whole of the furniture and personal effects of the staff were removed from the main sleeping quarters. Both the buildings referred to bear evidences of" the intense heat that was caused by the fire, the paint being blistered and the walls scorched by the flames. It is impossible to estimate the loss to the company. Many valuable instruments, costing hundreds of pounds, have been destroyed. With the recorder that was saved from the office, and another one that was located in the cable house near the sea shore, the service will be maintained. % The Chief Postmaster yesterday morning despatched Mr. Kemp, the telegraph engineer, to Cable Bay with batteries and instruments, and arrangements have been made for temporary premises in tho cable house. For some time past tho removal of the cable company's headquarters to Wellington has been contemplated, and the present destructive fire may result in a decision being arrived at. The cable office was a commodious building of one story, with a basement consisting of the main office, where oversea messages were received and despatched, a testing room, where the most valuable instruments were kept, the Press Association agent's office, and the superintendent's office. In a. strong room in the superintendent's office the records of the company wer© kept, but how they withstood the flames was not ascertainable yesterday morning. In addition, the books and papers which were kept in the office were completely destroyed. "The Bungalow" was a one storey building containing seven rooms, and was occupied by members of the staff. Tho main quarters, where the staff ha<s their meals, and some slept, was the largest building on the station. The residence of Mr. R. R. Black' (the superintendent) and Mr. J. Hanron (the officer in charge') are located some distance away, and were untonohed by the fire. The midnight staff were on duty until 2 a.m., and when they left therQ were no signs of the fire.