FIRES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2429, 7 April 1915, Page 6

FIRES

- ISLAND BAY CHURCH GUTTED. . _ The City Fire Brigade' received several calls yesterday, the largest outbreak being at seven o'clock in the evening, when a fire started in tho porch of the Presbyterian Church, th 6 Parade, - Island Bay.: The fire spread into the building, and the interior was gutted;;* An organ-in the church was destroyed, but a piano was only blistered. '■ The cause of the fire, which started'from the 'outside, is unknown. The building was insured for £300 in the Churchy Property. Insurance Fund,and the organ, piano, and furniture, for £80 in, iho.iame fund.

The-first-call received by the _ brigade -wasvat 12.45 p.m., to' Riddiford Street, where ;a fire left in a washhouse had .set'the' ! outbuilding ablaze, the conflagration spreading to the two workshops at the rear. A good save was made,' and the damage, is estimated at about, £40 or £50. All the buildings were owned by Mr. Jas. Smith, Cuba Street, and were insured in the Phoenix Office, but the amount was not ascertainable'yesterday. The workshop was occupied by Alfred Hutchings, wheelwright,.-, who had no .insurance-, and John: H: Gilchrist,- plumber. Mr. Gilchrist is away, and it is not known whether his stock was' insured. -

While the brigade was attending the Riddiford Street fire a further .call was received to" The Terrace,, to a gorse fire at -the back of Messrs. Davis and .Clater's premises. The blaze was extinguished before any damage had been done. :

-; At 9.45 p.m. tho brigade received a call to 23 iTliorndon Quay. On arrival it "was found that a two-story dwelling, of .10 Tooms was ablaze. Before the. flames were suppressed the building and its contents were severely damaged. Tlio house, which was a boardinglfbuse, was occupied by Mrs. Dora Milnn and owned by Mrs. E. M. Clapcott, of Upland Road, Kelburn.