FIRES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1651, 18 January 1913, Page 5

FIRES.

OUTBREAKS IN CHRISTCHURCH FACTORY DESTROYED. (Br Telefriph.-Prosi Association.) Chrlstchurch, January 17m Early this afternoon a firo broko out ill tho furniture and bedding, factory of Messrs. Holmes - and Son,' corner of. ' High and William Streets, the. contents - and building being destroyed. •■■■■.. The outbreak is said to havo resulted ' , from an .employee tramping flu- a match, i which 6et a bale of kapoo on firo, Tho'' bale was taken into the yard, but it was " : not found possible to get the firo out. Tho brigade was smartly on tho scene and : < got a good; supply of water on tho names.' ■' ":''■/■:'•'■

There was a' large quantity of, kapoc, which is most inflammablo, and other', bedding material, and ; despite tho plenteous supply of water played on tho ' , flames tho fire was not got under till'tho .-',: interior of tho factory and shop wascomplctely gutted. ;', There was a largo'quantity of kapoo;.. along the walls dividing Messrs. Holmes ■'; -' and' Son's shop from that of Mrs.- Lucy Croze, tobacconist, and tho flames wcro ■'■'.' comniunicatcd to Mrs. Croze's shop. .... ■ Tho fire also spread to a four-roomed cottage in William Street, almost behind Messrs. Holmc9 and Son' 6 shop and fac-V tory, and somo damage was done to the;, building and contents. .. " ..' Tho block is the property of Mr. Hugh ' Cassidy. and is insured in the Standard . ; Office for.JCCM. ■ Messrs., Holmc3 ' and Son's stock is insured in tho Phoenix Offico for J2300. Tho other property is' j also insured. '■ ' ~ v;

, DETECTIVES INVESTIGATING. ■-,' ..'.;.' ' Chrlttchurch, January 17. '~ ' To-day : detectives vero engaged invos-. tigating' an outbreak of fire in. Idres '■>': Road.'Pnpauui, early on Thursday morn-' \ l . Ing. They aro at present, very reticent,; -.' ana will say.no,more than that tho firo : started in four separata places, and, apparently in such a way that it, appeared <■■.. * toibc a matter of design rather than, ao-; ■■ cident.' ..'■ ~ ■-• '. ' .' •>'" \

. SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES., _ : ; . ■ ■ 'Christchurch, January 17. ..'. At 10.30 last night a cottago in Hn&clvm ■■ dean . Hoad, Sydenham, was found >to bo -,'.' \ f ,; on fire. The brigade wbb able to subdue -'V. the outbreak. At 3,30 this, morning, a ; -' v .. ; - fresh fire started, and the place was dc-: '■':■'•■ stroyed completely. A man had been in'; ■'. occupation of tho house, 'but'.had .left • ',•■'-'> about midday.' Tho wholo' circumstances . .' r , : :'>■-, wero so suspicious that the, Sydenham, v;; police handed the matter over to the city detective office, which is,'following: up■'■, :ri ;V; tho matterjcarefully. ,-'" ,' ',■ . HIVES AND HONEY;DESTROYED'.'; : ! .{k ".'■■'.". ■ Nelson, Janinry 17. ;,!r. By a fire at Takaka Mr. George - '."-.-'. ;!' cook',",the well-known apiarist, sustained ;•'' "r,; serious loss. A building, all tho hivesi and - f Bomo tons of honey were'destroyed. 1 ;' ; ' I