FIRE AT TEE WOOLLEN FACTORY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3966, 24 June 1887, Page 3

FIRE AT TEE WOOLLEN FACTORY.

At 10.35 last night the firebell rang out an alarm, and the news noon spread that the Timaru Woollen Factory Buildings were on fire. Early arrivals found that the south western corner of the building was all ablaze, and the flames soon burst through the windows. In the portion of the buildings named is situated the offices and storeroom, and tho Fire Brigade, the members of which were as usual very quickly on the spot, confined the fire to them, and m three or four minutes, every trace of fire was extinguished. The end door was then forced, and an inspection showed that the storeroom and office were quite gutted. As Mr Thomas Lod»e, the lessee of the mill, lives out of town it was impossible to ascertain the exact value of the goods on hand, or to what extent they and the contents of the office were insured. It was freely said that the goods m stock were valued at £2000 and they are all pretty well destroyed. As to the origin of the fire, it is shrouded m mystery. Some of the employees were about the factory up to 9 o'clock, and they allege that all was left safe before they retired for the night. A further inspection is to be made this morning, and the damaged stock overhauled.