FIRE AT CAVERSHAM.

Western Star, Issue 281, 25 January 1879, Page 1 (Supplement)

FIRE AT CAVERSHAM.

A two-storey brick store, situated on the main road at Cavorsham, and in the occupation of Mr Peter Rutherford, grocer, was destroyed by.firegn Saturdaynight, DBips shopman, was employed in the storeroom adjoining the shop weighing flour and put- ' , ting it into bags, when he upset a lighted kerosene lamp which had been standing on a kerosene tin, and ' it burst. In a few moments the store (which contained several tins of kerosene and a quantity of spirits) was in flames, and the fire spread to the mam portion’ of the building so rapidly that Mr Rutherford had barely time to rescue his family, who were in the upper part of the building, and was not able to save his books, which were in the safe. The Dunedin and ■ • Momington brigades were promptly on the spot, but •wing to the supply of water not yet being carried > into Oaversham their services could not be utilised. The building, with its contents, was completely, destroyed. Mr Rutherford’s stock was Insured in the New Zealand Office for LI,OOO, the building for LI,OOO in the same office; and the furniture for L2OO in the South British. He estimates , i his loss at LI.OOO over and above the sum covered by,M insurance. This fire raises the question of the desirability Of the town brigade going to the suburbs, .. \ whore, owing to a water supply not being available,-' • . their sendees are practically useless. On Saturday night the men with the whole of the Dunedin and North Dunedin gear were at Cavsrsham, and had a fire broken out in town the remits would probably ...,, have been serious before the firemen could have returned. We merely throw out, the hint f»r tho con- ' sidoration of the City Corporation.