HEAVY LOSS BY FIRE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1972, 31 January 1914, Page 6

HEAVY LOSS BY FIRE.

KAIWARRA RAILWAY SHOPS.' I COSTLY PLANT DESTROYED. i A very Berious outbreak of fire occurred in tlio machinery and fitters' shop at tlio railway mnintcnanco works at Kaiwarra early yesterday morning, resulting in tlio destruction of eomo thousands of pounds worth of Government property. Die fire raged for over an hour, and the .building, which was a wooden one, and very old, burnt fiercely. Tho loss, Tiowcver, is not so much due to tho destruction of the building ns to the destructive effect on tho machinery, which was practically new.

First on tho Scene. I The exact time of the outbreak is not known, but, when discovered, the flamos had a good hold. A traveller on tho Hutt Road first noticed the flames, and ho conveyed tlio intelligence with all speed to Messrs. AV. Cablo and Son's foundry, adjoining Messrs. Levin and Co.'s stores at Kaiwarra. Fortunately eorno of- the employees had been working thero all night under Mr. W. Cablo, junior, and they were quickly on tho scone. By this time, however, tho fire had a very firm grip, and dense volumes of flame and smoke were pouring out of tho centre of the building. Mr! Cablo had . given tho alarm to the Thorndon Fire Station, and, in tho meantime, Cable and Co.'s employees had got to work on the heavy task of keeping the flames in check. With the help of a reel of hose, which was kept on the premises, they did valuable work in directing a good flow of water on tho north , end of the carpenters' shop, thus preventing the flames from extending in that direction. Valuable work was also done by other employees injnnning a number of trucks of wool belonging to Levin and Co.'e stores out of tho danger _of firo. "Had it not been for their foresight this wool must also have beon destroyed.

Brigade Arrives. Tile arrival of the Thorndon Firo Brigado to help the fire-fighters in their uneven contest changed _ the tide of battle, and, despite the immense hold which the fire had on the buildings, they succeeded in getting it well under control by 5 o'clock. Aided considerably by the good provision for firo servico mado by the Railway' Department (tho yards being supplied with a 4-inch pipe from the Wainm-o-mate. mains), several leads of hose were soon playing on the flames, and, in spite of the stiff wind which was fanning, the fire, tho brigade succeeded, in saving the carpenters' shop, the stores, tho smithy, and all the valuable timber .'stored in the yards. ,

Extent of the Loss. The destruction of the building which lies immediately opposite the Kaiwarra railway station means. a loss of about £500 or £600. Tlio destruction of tho machinery, • however, represents a greater amount, and will bring up tho Jos3 to about £3000. ■ 'Tho Department will also suffer serious inconvenience through the dislocation of an essential portion of its works. Fortunately, howover, it will havo no difficulty in roplacing the machinery from within the Dominion. There is not a great number ofmen employed at tho works, and only a few casual hands will be thrown out of employment as tho resultof the fire. Ihe causo of the fire is not exactly known, as it had too great a hold when first,noticed,.but it evidently started in. ' No! is kept at the works, ani-when •'•'the' watchman loft tho premises at about 8 o'clock on Thursday evening everything seemed, secure. J

OUTBEEAK AT ISLAND BAY. At 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon the Central Firo Brigade was called to No. 132 Clyde Street, Island Bay Tho firo was in the rear part of tho house, and had started through tho hot water pipe leading from the range tothe boiler igniting some woodwork. Very little damage was done. The house was ocqupied by Mr. Alfred Hounsoll, and is owned by Messrs. Odlin and Co.

'"The London Daily Graphic" states, under date 12th November, 1913:—Will the time come wheri our Fire Brigades will no longer be needed' Certain it is that a great number of fires are to-day nipped in tho bud without tho assistance of the man in tho brass helmot, by means of tho many ingenious flro extinguishora which are on tho market. At a demonstration held yesterday at Willesden, of the "G'alvo" Chemical Extinguisher, three piles of inflammable matter were each put out in ten seconds when in full flamß. LAERY AND CO.,' LTD.. Allen Street, Wellington, sole Neir Zealand Agents.—Adrt. ' ■