FIRES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6623, 23 October 1899, Page 3

FIRES.

Shortly after 3 a.m. yesterday an alarm of fire was given, and tne Brigade quickly attended. It was fdurid ihat a six-roomed house in Conference Street, oft 1 Montreal Street north, owned by Mr D. Swan Son, and occupied by Constable Lomax, was on fire. The inmates, consisting of Mrs Lomax anu two small children, and Mr Percy Lomax, a brother of the occupier, had considerable difficulty in escaping. In rescuing one of the children, whose feet were badly burned; Mr l<oniai: had one of his hands cut with the giass of a window. The Brigade succeeded in saving the two adjoining hoiistß, which were only a few feet away* but Constable Lomax's house was completely gutted, and. all the furniture was destroyed. The boiise was insured in the Victoria Office for £110,' and the furniture in the New Zealand Office for £100. Constable Lomax estimates hia loss at from £30 •to £40 above the insurance.

- The greatest distance that a shot has been fired is a few yards over fifteen miles, which was the range of Krupp's Well-known monster 130-ton steel gun, firing a shot vf'hich weighs over a ton and a quarter. • At Swedish weddings among the middle i!id lower classes the bridegroom carries a srhip, as ai emblem of his authority in the tlbmestic circle.