FIRE AT HASTINGS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 491, 26 April 1909, Page 6

FIRE AT HASTINGS.

FURNITURE FACTORY DESTROYED. ' • THE WATER SUPPLY' QUESTION. < (BY WLBOBiPH—SPECIAL COBBESrONDENT.) j Hastings, April 24. i The brazen noto of tlio firo alarm disturbod ' tho midnight ' stillness of Hastings, at which i timo Messrs. Phillips and Wright's furnituro ] factory, consisting of a two-story woodon . structure about 100 feet long by 40 foot wido, : situated in King Street, was well ablaze. Tho ■ fix© brigado and tho firo police were promptly on the spot, and in very quick timo Captain Brausclr had the ateamor pumping through , throo "loads ,of hose from tho manhole nt < Roach's Cornor. A strong wind was blow- ] ing from .the south-west, and by this timo tho | flames,- which-started on/the ground floor at j tho rear of tho' building, had tho structuro • well in. their clutches, whilst Mr. H. J. Hal-: linan's cottage at tho back : of - tho, factory | was also: on hro. Constable O'Grady :dosoryes credit for his promptitude in arousing 1 tho inmates (Mr. and Mrs. Hallinan, two children, and Mrs. Lewis), who were fast. ' asleep and in no inconsiderable danger. As it : was, they escaped unhurt, but very little of their belongings were saved.. Tho factory. ( building was only a shell, and as the rough ] timber and furnituro afforded amplo fuel, tho , fire simply devoured the structure, which, de- - spite every effort, was . burnt to the ground. ; The heat was so intense that the wooden . gateway opposite leading into the rear of Mr. : S. Graham'a livory stables caught alight, but ; was put out,i The: willow trees growing in front of Thompson's- largo boarding-houso, . also on tho opposite side, were, to a largo ox- . tent, responsible for .the. safety of- that build- , ing, but the wind' carried- the Sparks' to such a distance that , a oottage used as a died in t Manson > and. Co.'s ; timber yard, a-s well as. part of-Tombs and Grubb's furniture factory,\ both in Market Street, caught fireS ,'■■■ The flames were, however, promptly extinguished. The 1 steam fire'engine was now-only fighting to save Phillips and Wright's shop_in front of the factory (on the corner of King and Heretaunga Streets), which was so seriously threatened that, although the firo w'as'advancmg partly < against tho wind, it- ..was deemed tadvisable by Captain Halse to remove tho contents. Tho_firo engine had jußt succeeded in' suppressing the outbreak to such an extent that all anxiety for the safety of the shop was removed, when, after, an hour and three-quarters' good work, it broke down absolutely, and after some - futile, offorts to get it in working order the engino had to; be removed to Jones ahd Sons' yard, where the engineers strove to find the cause of the collapse.: VjThe : manual was. then, brought' into requisition,- and- the firemen worked hard pumping on the expiring flames until all danger liaa passed. Beyond the fact that: the outbreak started near tho paint at the back of .'.the nothing is known as to tho origin. i." -Phillips and Wright's shop, which had suoh a - providential escapo,.; carried no insurance whateverj ,The factory contained a lot of valuable furniture -mado to order, all; packed and: ready, .to ■be sent out.: Everything, including somo twenty workmen's tools, was destroyed. The cottage occupied by Mr. Hallinan ahd his family was. ownod by Mr. A. F. Douglas; and insured for £150 in the Phoonix. Mr. Hallinan had his furnituro insured m the. Standard for £75. Messrs. Phillips and Wright estimate that over £2000. worth of .damage/' including a lot; of valuable, ma- • cliinery, ;was cansod-on their premises, th 4 closing up of : which has thrown twenty men ' out of work. The breakdown of tho fire engine last night was an argument infavour of a. high pressure water . 6upply for tho town. The fire occurred on the fringe ,of the business part of Hastings,; and with tho exception of Hallinan's residence, and ,a few shops at the rear of tho factory, tho area attacked was practically i isolated. If, however, the fire had occurred in tho-next business-olock, for instance, .the'. : suspension of the engine's operations would .have been attended with disastrous conscquonoos.. Tho factory, including stock, machinery, and . all contents, as .well ,as a nominal' protection: of .the furniture in. progress of marni-! facturo, was insured in the Queensland office for £1100. i FIRE AT DUNEDIN. .. (BY TELEGUAPH—PBBS9 ASSOCIATIOH-V .Dunedin, April 24. A five-roomed house in Melbourne Road, South Dunedin, was practically destroyed-by iiro early yestorday morning. ' The house: was ' owned by Mrs. Garden, Walker Street/ and occupied by Mrs. Wyatt. The building was insured for £150 in tho Royal office,-and the' furniture for £200 in tho Now Zealand office; •