FIRES IN THE CITY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 456, 15 March 1909, Page 5

FIRES IN THE CITY.

BRIGADE KEPT BUSY. SERIOUS OUTBREAK IN A PRODUCE STORE. INCIPIENT FIRE IN A TIMBER-YARD. Tho series of fires from which Wellington has been suffering has not yot run its course. Sinco wo last wont to press tho Firo Brigade has received three calls, ono being a rathor serious outbreak in tho heart of tho city—in tho pjpduco stovo of Messrs. D. W. Virtue and Co., (lour and produco merchants, No. 13 Victoria Street. Tho brigade received the call for this fire at 5.20 o'clock hist ovening from the alarm located at tho corner of Harbour anil Victoria Streets, siuoko having been seen coming from the top of the three-storied building occupied by tho firm named. An entrance was obtained through tho ' double doors which admit vehicles to tlio largo storo boliind J;ho ollico on tho ground lloor. The ■ placo was choked with smoke, and flames, arising from a stack of baled straw, were linking tho raftered ceiling in a very dangerous fashion. After some trouble tho : seat, of - the firo iras located against tho southern wall' of tho building, and it was seen afterwards that bad tho firo been allowed a few minutes grace tho first lloor, heavily laden with big stacks of flour, must have collapsed. But the prompt application Of ft cmiplo of strong jets promptly subdued tho outbreak. Tlio dainago consists of badly-burned ceiling (which forms tho lloor of the flat above), and damage to tho stock of straw, bran, .wheat, and general produce by lire, smoke, and water, fho , heavy stock of'bagged Hour carried on tho' first lloor was not ulfected, save tho discolouration of the bags by smoke, An inspection of tlio premises after tho fire showed that there were" grated openings in the first lloor about 24 inches _by 18 inches, which Superintendent O'Brien , indicated would form dangerous air vents in caso of lire. Thcso are evidently ventilators, to provido for tho circulation of the air, as there are no windows openings of any kind, save in,front of. tho building. Mr. R. M. .Virtue (who with Mr. John Virtue, arc the owners and solo occupiers of trho building) states that he 'believes ho was the last to leave the building at 1 p.m. on Saturday, but, his storoman, who is ail old and trusted, servant, also had a key of the premises. He had not scon him since t tliu outbreak. Tho cause of the firo, apart from the theory of spontaneous combustion, remains a mystery. Tho following are tho insurances:—Contents —Norwich Union, :E4oo (machinery); Norwich Union, £2000; Royal, £000; Phoenix, £750; Atlas, £800. Tho New Zealand Flonrmillcrs' Association, for whom Messrs. Virtue and Co. aro local agehts, had its stock of flour insured in the United oflico for £1000. and in the Norwich Union for £1000. Tho insurance on tlio building was not ascertained last evening. FIRE ON LAMBTON QUAY. Shortly after four o'clock on Saturday afternoon, an outbreak of fire occurred in the store attached to tho baking establishment of Sir. James Jlowbray, of 104 Lambton Quay, owned by' Mr. 11. l'ulmer, licensco. of tlio Empire Hotel at Pctone. Tho fire, which pretty well gutted tho store, was caused through the crown of tlio oven falling in. Tho contents were uninsured, nnd tho insurances on tho building were not ascertainable yesterday. SMOKE IN A TIMBER-YARD. On tho way back to tlio station from the firo at Mowbray's bakehouse and store, tho Fire Brigado motor was traversing WaringTaylor Street, when smoko was seen arising from a stack of timber in tlio open yard of . Messrs. M'Lcod, Weir, and Hopkirk, timber and glass merchants.! A couple of brigadesmen hopped over tho fence, and discovered a firo in. an incipient stage, beneath a stack of timber. To indicate tho possibilities that existed for a big conflagration in mid-city, Superintendent O'Brien stated that tho lire, which had evidently been smouldering for somo littlo time, broke into flames beforo the chemical engine got to work. Two minutes' work sufficed .to subduo the outbreak.

PREVENTION.

Again we have a lesson in regard to the pro nervation of valuables. Chubbs's strong-room doors and safes resist tbc fiercest fires. Users of fheso doors and safes never have any anxiety. The Attorney in New Zealand of Chubbs's Australian Co., Ltd., is Mr. Janiep Dykes (of Gmilter, Dykes, and Co.), Featherslon Street, from whom nil information can be obtained regarding Clmbbs's manufactures. G3SJ