FIRES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 788, 11 April 1910, Page 8

FIRES.

! DWELLING BURNED AT RICHMOND. ■'."■• OWNER PERISHES IN THE FLAMES. (By.TeleeraDh—Press Association.) Christchurch, April 10. At a fire which occurred in a fourroomed dwelling in Alexandra Street, Richmond, this morning, the owner and occupier, of the premises (Mr. D. Buckett, 50 years of age),-an old .resident, and a bricklayer and plasterer by trade, was burned to death, lir. Buckett , s wife and family are at present away in the North Island, and the neighbours were unaware that the house was occupied, and assumed that Mr. Buckett was ont'.'.of town. oq a shooting expedition. Apparently, no I one observed the fire until tho building was a.; mass of flames. It was only when the fire brigade were turning over the debris after the fire was got under . that they came upon Mr. Buckett's.charred remains: ' Thebbr- o gade received the alarm from a telephone exchange at 3.15 a.m., but the 'building"was , beyond' salvation when .they, arrived.. The building and contents '.were insured in the .London and Liverpool and' Globe office, but the amount is not at present ascertainable. OUTBREAK IN A. BUSINESS BLOCK. PROMPT ACTION PREVENTS SERIOUS CONFLAGRATION. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) : Chrlstchuroh, April 10. , ■', At ten minutes to 6 . o'clock this morning, the fire brigade received an alarm of fire for an outbreak in a business block in High Street, consisting of three stories and a basement. The ground floor and basement being occupied by Messrs. "Wallace and Co., chemists, the first floor by Mr. C. J. Newell, dentist, the .consulting rooms of; Dr.. -O'Brien and Dr. Campbell Duncan, and the rooms of Mi. , G. Michaels, occulist ;• and the second floor by Mr. J. Wright; music teacher. The. fire originated in a small room under the staircase on. the. first/floor used for storing bicycles, coal, and odds and ends, and also contained gas' It was severely damaged by fire. The contents of the basement were considerably damaged by water, and the remainder of the building was much '.damaged by, heat and smoke. So intense was the heat at one stage that it cracked the plaster of the ceiling on the top floor. The .fire was just breaking through the roof when the brigade succeeded in getting the 'flames under. The promptness with which the brigade and plant were on the undoubtedly prevented a .serious conflagration! The premises are owned by Mrs. W. Darby, and axe insured for £5500 in the United, and £1000-in the Royal' Exchange offices.' Messrs. Wallace and Co.'s stock is insured- as follows :-7-£2500 in the North Queensland, £1900 in the Royal Exchange, £1000 in the London,. Liverpool, and Globe, - £1000 in the. New Zealand, £550 in the Victoria office. Mr. Newell is .'insured for £300 in the State-office, Dr.- O'Brien for £50 in the Alliance, and' Mr. Wright for £250 in the State office. ,' ■. ■;<■ , AN INQUIRY. v " •' ■ (By Telegraph—Press Association.) .»j ?•>.«,? Palmerstqn,, North, April 10. " ' The. first inquiry held in the North Island under the Act of 1908. into the origin' of : the- fire■ at 'King's r Chambers in rooms occupied by Mn A. V. .Buruard,! dentist, ■-■ and over Messrs. Connor and : Tydeman's jeweller's shop, was held yesterday ' afternoon, Mr. Thomson, S.M., presiding. Detective Quarterman,' finger-print expert from Wellington, and. others, gave evidence. This' was the second fire at the same premises within a few weeks. The jury found a verdict that the fire was caused by some , person .or persons unknown, but no blame was attachable to Mr. ' Burnard.'. "'...■ [The Minimas Hand Fire Extinguisher has extinguished thousands of actual fires. It is indeed a friend in need—A. T. Bate, Nathan's Buildings, Wellington, is the agent.—Advt.]