FIRE ON A TROTTING COURSE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2913, 8 November 1916, Page 6

FIRE ON A TROTTING COURSE

HEAVY DAMAGE

GRANDSTAND VALUED AT £10,000

DESTROYED

Br Telegraph—Press -Associntioi,

Christchurch, November 7. A sensation was caused on tho Metropolitan trotting track at Addington about one o'clock this afternoon by tho discovery that tho stewards' stand, a fine building recently erected, was on fire. A small party of,officials with buckets and a garden hose endeavoured to stay the outbreak, but the high nor'wester hurried on the doom of the building, which was soon alight at all points. Glass smashing under the heat maintained a crackle like machine-guns in action. Crowds of people were driven from the vicinity of the totalisator and the eastern end of the big stand, and the smoke and sparks and flying cinders were everywhere.

The Cup horses, which wcro just going out, were recalled, racing being for the tinje impossible. Tho Christchurch FireErigade did not turn out at once, as tho Adding ton course is outside the city fire district. All efforts to get the brigade failed, and an appeal to the Mayor (Mr. Holland) was made without success. Everywhere people were clamoring for the brigade and upbraiding the Trotting Club for not calling the brigade. Indignation was general when it became blown that tho brigade would- not go out. Presently Superintendent Warner arrived on the sceno, and l seeing the seriousness of tho position ordered the brigade out. AVhen tho motor engine arrived tho crowd hooted the brigade and assailed it with derisive howls. As far as doing anything to save the building, the brigade might as well have stayed l at home, but the efforts of tho brigado were useful in saving tho largo people's stand, which, hut for t'hoir presence, might have shared the fate of the stewards' stand.

Tho burned stand was considered tho finest in any part of Australasia. It was built by Messrs. Luttrell Bros., at a cost of about £10,000. Officials of th« club consider that had' the request fot the brigade's services boon acceded to at the outset, the stand would not liavo been destroyed. The outbreak was first discovered by a woman, who noticed a wisp of smoke coming from tho lloor atiher feet just behind tho front fence of tho stand. She gave the alarm, but for several minutes no notice was taken, and not -until the flames burst out in real earnest did anyone take a sorious view. TJp till then tho crowd on tho lawn bad joked and cheered tlio ineffectual efforts of tho amateur firemen in oponing tho floor to get at tho outbreak with water. Tho opening of tho doors iu tho building fanned tho flames, and this, with the delay, gave tho firo its hold. At 2.20 p.m._ it became clear tho meeting was to continue. The totalisator racos were tilled with investors, and money was being poured into the machino for the New Zealand Cup. With tho ruins of tho stand still burning, they were not dismayed, and tho Now Zealand Trotting Cup actually started at 3.15 p.m., an hour and a quarter after the advertised time.

• Evidence in support of fusing of the wires being tho cause of the fire.is increasing. People on lawn say they saw smoke issuing from tho north-west corner of the roof. . Thoy tried to attract attention, but failed, and before they could inform the stand attendant smoke had been discovered issuing from under the seats. Near tlio corner from which the smoko was issuing there 'are wires.

Tho insurances amount to £8000. Furniture valued at £8000 was lost.

After a postponement for over an hour.to allow the smoko to clear, tho racing was resumed, the Cup being run at about 3.30 p.m.