FIRES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5568, 18 May 1896, Page 3

FIRES.

FPeb Pbess Association.! NAPIER, Mat 18. A fire broke out at Hastings at 11.30 a.m. yesterday, iv B. L. Knight's sash and frame manufactory, which was completely destroyed. The main building contained some very costly machinery used in connection with the business, and the loss to Knight is estimated to be between .£ISOO and i>2ooo, he haying refused, owing to the heavy rates ruling, to insure for a penny. A fire occurred near Ashburton on Friday night, by which Mr David Cochrane J s hoxise of six rooms was completely destroyed. Mr Cochrane was away from home, but the neighbours seeing the fire succeeded in saving some of the furniture. The building and furniture were insured in the Manchester Office for .£l9O. The origin of the fire is unknown. RANGIORA DAIRY FACTORY. Shortly before two o'clock this morning Mr, Newman Andersen's Rangiora Dairy Factory was discovered to be on fire. Mr W. Hollier, who lives about a chain from the factory, was aroused by the sound of 'the fire, which was then burning fiercely inside the building, the walls of which were of brick. He promptly gave the alarm j but the factory being nearly a mile from the centre of the town, by the time the Brigade arrived the building was pretty well gutted. The fire evidently started in the office, which was a small portion of the separator room partitioned off. From this the flames extended to the upper floor and roof, and the burning timber, falling on the machinery and other appliances below, ruined or destroyed them. The engine, which stood in a lean-to, at the side of the main building, escaped damage. The plant was a very complete one, including a large Burmeister and Wain separator, and an Alpha De Laval separator; the value of the whole being about .£SOO. The building belonged to Mr John Manning, of Balcairn, having at one time been used as a bottling store in connection with- the Burton Brewery. The origin of the fire cannot be accounted for. The engine had not been used since Saturday, and Mr Andersen was through the factory at half-past nine last night, and left everything apparently safe. The plant was insured in the Royal Office for .£375, of which .£125 is on the engine. The building was also insured for .£l5O in the Commercial Union. At the present time about thirty farmers were supplying milk to the factory, this being the slack season, the number being nearly fifty in the summer.

Mr Dickens, Q.C M seems destined to encounter in the law courts the names made famous in his father's fiction. He is the senior counsel for the respondent in the Haggerston election trial. And it was brought out in evidence that his client, Mr Lowles, is the managing director of " Dombey and Son," a large tailoring firm in the city. Mr Dickens has before, appeared for aMr Pickwick ; he has also met Mr Samuel Weller in real life in a professional way. Some day, perhaps, he will have the pleasure of appearing for Mrs Gamp, or even for her mysterious friend Mrs Harris. Socrates, at an extreme old age, learned i to play on musical instruments^