FIRE AT CHERTSEY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1790, 15 March 1888, Page 3

FIRE AT CHERTSEY

The "Press" reports that a fire occurred at Chert3oy yesterday morning, whereby a building and a quantity of grass seed were totally destroyed, and a threshing machine and elevator were badly damaged. Tho firo occurred on Mr W. 11. Rule's fatm, but at a place Bomo diatauco from his own residence. Mr Perks had bean threahing grass seed, and had a large quantity stowed m the ballding, while the combhiQ and elevator were m an attached shed. The flames were Boon to lasus from tho building m which tho gross seed was etc wed. Before tho combine and elevator could bo drawn dear the whole structure waa enveloped In flames. The combine was drawn out to a plaoe of safety, bat thn wheels of the elevator got jammed, and the flames spreading the elevator oaught fire and was destroyed. About sixteen bags of grass oeed were saved, but about 800 bushels waa totally destroyod, together with tho building and shed. Some of the men had been Bleeping m the building, and the fire 1b supposed to have originated through (oobo matches being I left about. One of the men had been Been to sweep down the window alll, and

it was shortly after this that tho fire broke out. Mr Perks had his elevator insured, but It is not known if any insurance had been effected on the grass need.

Since the above was put In type, the following particulars (which It will be seen differ somewhat f com the foregoing) have been supplied to no :—

Abont noon yesterday Mr Thoraaß Perk's combine was threshing grass soed at W. RoßkrUftea' former homestead, now hele by Mr W. J. Rule, of Pendttrvoa. The grass sheaves previons to threshing had been stored m a large 14— stall stable and sheds, a portion had also been stowed away m a room which had been used by harvesters for sleeping m. It waa this portion that was being thraehed where the fire took placo, the cause, it la Bapposed, having been matches loft Id the straw, which when put through the combine ignited and set fire to the grußß etitw, the fire being »tonce carried by tbo elevatoro to the straw stack, from which it spread to the stable buildings, and grass seed m bags, over 800 bushels of this being destroyed. Mr Perks who was dr V ng the traction engine, quickly observed tho fire and at onoe took steps to savo the somblne and elevators from destruction, by driving them out of reaoh of the burning stack. This he did at once with the combine but the rope attached to tho elevator breaking he had to make a second attempt, wh oh was successful, nor, however, before the fire had done considerable damage to this portion of the machinery. The sbakerß of the combine also are considerably ohorred, but a few days m the hands of Messrs P. and D. Duncan will put all the damage right, which is covered by insaranoe. The delay m work will, therefore, be the greatest loan to Mr Perks Wo have not ascertained if Mr Rule wbb Insured. /