FIRES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14144, 2 March 1910, Page 5

FIRES.

IN W. HAY'S NORTH BLOCK. A TROUBLESOME ENEMY. About a quarter to twelve last night the firebell rang an alarm, and so long as to suggest a fire of some importance. The building affected deserved it, this being Mr \V. Hay's block in Stafford Street, in the half occupied by Leslie O'Callaghan beneath and Smith's billiard room above, and had a good hold before it was discovered and the hose got to play upon it, the floor being burned through over some square feet, and flakes of fire were dropping through among furniture in the auction room beneath. A double branched hose was got to play, one being taken into the billiard room, and in a quarter of an hour ■or less firemen were walking about the room with a lantern, while big volumes of smoke were rising from the roof. After some delay the firemen mounted to the roof by means of a builder's ladder that happened to be in use on a newbuilding next door, and with a good deal of trouble tore some sheets of ; iron off the roof, and got the hose to • play upon the fire amnog the roof I timbers" and ceiling joists just' abmit : in time, for a hole was burned through i the ceiling nbout th=> same- time that I the hose <vuts'de became effective. This i was ;\bn--t 20 lainutss' after the -fire !in in" 'Hllir.r' 1 room itself had been !' tuienehod. The amount '.of damage 1 dr>)>o could 'not bo ascertained last • nicht. Some water found its woy int'" the northern half "of thr> Mock, and trickled down the wall inside Adams and Co.'s sarase, suggesting that iN'V '"'"ill's dentistry-room floors were flooded.