FIRE IN RATTRAY ST. DUNEDIN

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14520, 16 August 1911, Page 3

FIRE IN RATTRAY ST. DUNEDIN

SMART WOltK BY THE BRIGADE.

Ono has only to look over the ieene of the outbreak that occurred in Rattray- street last evening (reported the "Otago Daily Times") to note how tli e buildings a-ro clustered together,, and to consider the age of several of tne wooden structures to realise that the city had a narrow escape from a very serious fire.

At 12 minutes to 7 the fire brigade .station recc.ved a telcphouo message that a (ire was raging in the vicinity of Rattray street, aiid Captain Mitchell and his men were speed.ly borne- .here ■'v the motor engine. The glare of the flames showed that a fierce fire was burning in the rear part of Messrs Laidlaw and Gray's shop. Tho rear portions of the Grand Hotel and othrr buildings adjoining were brightly illuminated. Two leads of hose were inn up tho right-of-way lending past Mr Siiaw's jewellery shop, and the brigade at onco commenced, with a splendid pressure, to play on the fire, vii.cn was streaming cut of several windows of the burning building and leaping above the roof. Captain Mitchell had two leads in readiness to bring in through the Rattray street entrance if necessary, when it was noticed that smoke was beginning to issue from the door of Mr Tnybr's hosiery establishment facing Rattray street, as well as from Messrs Lnidinw and Gray's front- door. Captain Mitchell immediately ordered the two Rattray street lends to be 'used—one in Mr Taylor's shop, the other in Messrs La-'dlaw and Gray's premises. Recognising that they had to deal with cue of the mast dangerous places in Dunedin—from a fireman's point of view—the mm took no chances ,a.nd poured in tho water, and at the end of an hour'* arduous work were rewarded by getting the flames under control. After seeing that all was safe, they were able to leave the building at 20 minutes to 9. A walk through the burnt-out Potions of the two buildings shows -a scene of devastation. Most- of th« damage done in Messrs Laidlaw and Gray's is confined to the creckery and electro-plate department on the first floor, to the rear part of the building, and to the fitt.ngs. Broken crockery and valuable bowls, litter the flour, while the walls, ceilings, and fittings are blackened, burnt, and blistered. However, a large rjart of the firm's stock has been saved, and as they carry a large quantity of similar goods in their wholesale warehouse, on tho opposite side of the street, this branch of their business will h u carried cu there to-aay, and thea' business arrangements will not 03 upiet. Tne tiro fiend finished up his work with disastrous results m Mr Taylor's shop. The whole of tlio stock appears to be completely ruined, while the walls and ceilings are badly burnt and charred.

There seems to bo no certainty where tlie fire originated. Mr Taylor states that, yesterday being the weekly halfholiday, he closed as usual at m:d-day.. and was not in he shop again till called there on the occasion of tho outbreak. Ono of Messrs Laidlaw and Gray's employees n-as in the firm's shop at C o'clock, and saw no sign of lii-j. In addition to the actual damage done by tho fire, tho smoke and water have seriously depreciated the value of a large part of Me>:srs Laidlav .'r.d Gray's stock, while a. lot of water necessarily found its way into the basement.

A large quantity of the damaged stock has been brought to Timaru, and the public will now have the opportunity of securing goods slightly soibd by smoke and water at prices that must result in speedv clearance of all lines. To facilitate laying out- and marking stock, the prem : .seT< oi Laidltw and Gray, Stafford street, Timaru, will he closed all day on Tlim'sdav. and reopen at 10 a.m. on Friday, when they will be in readiness to cnnimenco their record breaking sale of salvage goods...