FIRE AT KAIKOURA.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16417, 10 January 1919, Page 9

FIRE AT KAIKOURA.

HARBOUR BOARD'S SHED " DESTROYED. DAJVIAGE ESTIMATED AT £5000. (special to "tke press.") KAIKOURA, January 9. Just as the Cygnet arrived this morning, at 6.30, a serious fire broke out, by which the Harbour Board's big shed and its contents were totally destroyed, involving a loss of approximately £5000. The Hopuku Dairy Company lost 75 crates of cheese, valued at £560, and the Kaikoura Dairy Copipany 225 crates valued at £1400. Both were insured. Eighty cases of butter belonging to Mr Murray, 20 bales of wool, the property of Mr "Jerry" Boyd, and 14 bales, the property of Mr Anderson Boyd, were also destroyed. One storekeeper lost five tons of sugar, and a quantity of bales, and another one ton of sugar, whilst others, lost goods to tho value of £40 £100. A returned'soldier lost the whole of his furniture-and effects valued at £125. Captain Murray, and tho crew of the Cygnet, worked hard, and savea the wharf, whilst willing volunteers used the manual engine with good effect. Efforts to save twenty bales of wool and a similar -number of bales of .flax were successful. A number of had the good sense to release 44 prime bacon pigs awaiting shipment to Lyttelton. Women also worked hard. The fire is said to have originated through a spark igniting "a tin of petrol used for lighting purposes. Tho insurances are not available. Mr T. Stack (wharfinger) worked hard to avert further damage. ■ An enquiry is likely to. be held. The, absence of a high-pressure water supply was very ranch felt.