BIDWILL STREET FIRE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1336, 13 January 1912, Page 5

BIDWILL STREET FIRE.

TWO HOUSES BURNT. timely aid to the brigade. BY POLICE AND OTHERS, A serious fire occurred in Bidwill Street at 3.10 p.m. yesterday, as the result of which two large wooden dwellings and contents were totally destroyed, and the two adjoining buildings were slightly damaged. When tho brigade arrived, No. 31 Bidwill Street was fully ablaze, and beyond hope of saving, and tho adjoining residence had also caught fire, and was being rapidly devoured by the flames, which were fanned by a light northerly wind. Tho brigade concentrated its efforts- on Having the buildings on either side, and their task was no light one, for Bidwill Street is an elevated thoroughfare and tho pressure of water in the mains was not very strong. But tho brigade went to work with a will, and assisted by a squad of Permanent Artillerymen and police, who carried wet blankets to tho roofs of the adjoining buildings and also hung them on the walls the spread of the flames was confined to the two centre buildings, which, in a little over an hour; were totally demolished. Tho cause of the fire is unknown. The house (No. 31) in which it originated was a wooden building of eight rooms, and was owned and occupied by Mr. Herbert Smith. It was insured in the Guardian office for £700, and the contents in the National office for £550. As mentioned, both house and contents were destroyed. The adjoining house (No. 33) was a nine-roomed one-story wooden dwelling, and was occupied and owned by Mr. Charles Ballingall. In this case a small portion of the contents was saved, but the building itself was destroyed. Both the house and contents were insured in the Royal Exchange, South British, and Phoenix offices, but for what amount could not be ascertained yesterday. No. 35, which was slightly damaged by fire, is a seven-roomed residence owned and occupied by Mr. Frank Andrews, clerk to the Executive Council, The building is insured in the Standard office for £400, and tho contents for £350 in the State office. Some of tho contents were damaged by hasty removal. The residence on tho other side of the destroyed houses is a one-storied wooden building of eight rooms, occupied and owned by Mr. Louis Linklater, accountant to the legal firm'of Messrs. Bell, Gully, Bell, and Myers. This building (which was only slightly damaged on tho side wall by fire) and its contents are insured, the, former for £700 and tho latter for £360 in the National office. Superintendent O'Brien wishes to express his thanks to the Permanent Artillerymen, police, tramway men; and' postmen, who readily assisted him to subdue what promised to become a very ugly conflagration.