FIRES.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXII, Issue 848, 2 December 1905, Page 5

FIRES.

. . ..GREAT DESTRUCTION OF PROPEIVIT. United Presa ARKonintinn—Pm* Eiei-fri.-Telegraph—X'opvrirbt. The bush fires in the Copdobulin district swept an r.re.i of over 100 miles. It. is estimated that 400,000 ;>ores of grass, much ■feiifcnig; and been: destroyed. WOOLSTON TANNERY DESTROYED. ... Per Press Association. . , December 1. Iv>A -' disastrous- ."firfe /.occurred' - to-night in !.the- Woolston. tannery, owned by Bowron 'Bros., Out of all the buildings covering sir acres,- the only portion not ■ absolutely ' gutted was the currieTs" shed, which was itself badly- damaged by fire. A great i Btock of leather and hides, and most of ; thema'chinery were destroyed, and Bowron Bros, state that the insurances, which are , not ' yet' ascertainable, will certainly not cover" the losses. Fully one hundred and fifty men were employed at the fanneiy and as the busy season was just commencing the loss to the wage-earners will be serious.. The fire is supposed to have started in tb? of-: tlie boiler house, "but the cause of the "outbreak is a mystery. The chemical engine and railway steamer were soon on the spot; but all chance of -saving the building was hopeless from the first. The -Irtuldingv was mostly composed of wood! and corrugated iron and the great quantity of. grease and oil used in connection with the tannery assisted the flames. The fire was discovered shortly before 7 o'clock and was " still smouldering at 11.