EXTENSIVE DAMAGE

Evening Star, Issue 23694, 30 September 1940, Page 6

EXTENSIVE DAMAGE

IRREPLACEABLE DYES DESTROYED HUNDREDS OF INDIVIDUALS AFFECTED LARGE STUCK OF CLOTH BURHT Fire which broke out in premises between King and Princes streets, belonging to the City Dye Works, last night will have extremely severe repercussions from the trading aspect. Large stocks of dyes that cannot be replaced were completely destroyed. One section of the work of the firm—the dyeing of piecegoods for city shops—will have to be abandoned for the duration of the war. As far as dyeing work for private customers is concerned, arrangements have already been made with a Christchurch firm to obtain sufficient dyes to carry on. Between 7,000 and 8,000 yards of cloth belonging to various city firms were destroyed. Garments belonging to private people, numbering several hundred, were also completely burnt. The position in regard to these is that they are accepted by the firm at owners’ risk. . However, it has been the practice of the City Dye Works to maintain an insurance policy on these goods. The amount of the cover is not sufficient to repay the value of the goods to owners, but a proportion will be returned to each person. GOOD SAVE. This morning, charred timbers everywhere throughout the building bore witness to the fact that a splendid save had been made in record time by the Fire Brigade. The fire was blazing to the roof when, at 2.55 a.m. to-day, a milkman gave the alarm. Four machines were sent out—three from the Central Station and one from South Dunedin, and the eight officers and 18 men had the fire under control within 15 minutes. The position of the premises made it difficult to get at the fire from all sides. A lead was taken through the roof and on two other sides of the building. A stock of latex and crepe rubber owned by M'Kinlays Footwear Company Ltd., to whom part of the premises was let, at one time was blazing fiercely on top of the water. Not a stick of timber was left in the building to-day that did not show deep charring. Water pressure was reported to be extremely good at the time of the save. M'Kinlays’ were the losers of a_ stock of silk thread and pom-poms for slippermaking valued at several hundred pounds. These items, too, will be difficult to replace. The main building of this company, situated across a right-of-way, was damaged slightly by heat. The fire was caused by steam-heating plant in the Dye Works’ premises. It was not reported until it was well alight. “ A typical week-end fire,” commented Superintendent Price, of the Fire Brigade. “It had a chance to smoulder away and get a good hold.” Another loser to a slight extent was Mr S. J. Scoones, a garage proprietor in King street.