A RACECOURSE FIRE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19648, 6 September 1926, Page 6

A RACECOURSE FIRE

STEWARDS’ STAND DESTROYED OUTBREAK AT WTNGATUI. (Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, Sept. 5. During the course of the Otago Hunt Club’s meeting at Wingatui racecourse yesterday afternoon, the stewards’ stand took fire, and was completely demolished. How the outbreak occurred is not known, but it is suspected to have been due to the fusing of an electric wire. Smoke was seen issuing from the roof of the building, and shortly afterwards flames broke through. The appliances for fire-fighting were inadequate, and the flames quickly spread, working downwards, and fanned by a strong breeze, the whole building was soon blazing fiercely. Within an hour the building was in ruins.

Fortunately the books, jockeys’ scales, and other club property on the ground floor were saved, and the officials were able to carry on the remainder of the programme, with only about 20 minutes’ delay.

The insurances are as follows:—£32so in the Royal Insurance Company and £1750 in the South British office on the building, and £250 in the Royal Insurance and £lOO in the British Traders’ on the contents. It is estimated that it will take from £BOOO to £lO,OOO to replace the building.