Fire at Rees' Factory

Feilding Star, Volume V, Issue 38, 1 April 1884, Page 2

Fire at Rees' Factory

This morning about six o'clock the Coach Factory, Kimbolton road, of Mr John L. Rees, was totally destroyed by fire. We learn from Mr Rees that when he left the premises at 5.15 yesterday afternoon there was apparently nothing left behind of a dangerous or imflammable character. In fact, no fire had been used in the business since Mr Rees started, and he neither smoked tobacco himself nor allowed others to do so in the shop or adjacent yard, when in his power to prevent it. Up to about six o'clock this morning everything was safe and quiet. About that time, however, smoke was observed rising from the roof, and in a few minutes the whole building was in flames. Mr J. Bartholomew and Mr H. Lee and others tried to save some of the vehicles, but the fire was too fierce. They managed to rescue a few planks and boards but everything else was „ destroyed. In the workshop were the tools and patterns used by Mr Rees in his trade, many of them very valuable and almost impossible to replace. Mr Rees estimates his loss in these, at not less than £80. His stock of timber, axles, springs, buggy mountings, &c., £130. One second hand concord American waggon, one new buggy nearly finished, one spring trap in course of completion—these were all Mr Rees' own property being built to order and were valued at £50. This makes a total of £260, no part of which is covered by insurance, and everything is rendered utterly valueless. The building was insured in the Colonial office, for £200 but as it did not belong to Mr Rees it benefits him nothing. No possible explanation can be offerred as to the cause or origin of the fire. Mr Rees has the sympathy of the whole community as he is a most hard working man As he is also a skilful tradesman, we have every hope and confidence that he will soon reinstate himself in this former position.