DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT THE THAMES.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 82, 15 April 1901, Page 3

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT THE THAMES.

LOSS ESTIMATED AT XIO.OOO. Thames,'Thursday. A ifery destructive fire, and one which involves the loss of property valued at fully X'lo,ooo, broke out this morning at about a quarter past one in the building occupied by Mr W. H. Thomas, dentist, and the chemist shop belonging to the cstste of the late Mr F. J. Bay, Pollenstreet. When the outbreak was first discovered, it had secured a very firm hold, and by the tune the fire brigade arrived, which was only the matter of a few minutes, the whole building, and also the adjoining shop, occupied by Mr George Cullen, draper, was one mass of flames, and presented a magnificent spectacle. Immediately the fire brigade arrived, four leads of hose were laid on to the 9in main, but the pressure of water at first was so weak that for some time the efforts of the firemen wore almost fruitless. This was accounted for by the fact that the valve connecting the borough mains with the county water mains was closed down, but immediately this defect was remedied by the opening of a valve, a splendid pressure of water was available, and an impression was made on the flames. By this time, however, the buildings mentiopfd were doomed, and the flames had also W. Scott’s large grocery cstablishrr|K\on the north side of Mr Cullen’s Ujrpei!y shop. The firemen, with the increased supply of water at their command, then endeavored to suppress the outbreak in Mr Scott’s shop, and also prevent the flames spreading southward to Mr C. Palmer's confectionery shop. The latter premises wore saved with comparatively little damage, although another building, at the rear, used by Mr Palmer as a factory in the making of his goods, was burnt to some extent. The efforts to suppress the flames in Mr Scott’s shop were only partially successful, for the greater part of the building was gutted, and a largo amount of damage was done to the stock by water. In fact, for some considerable time it looked as if Mr W. D. Jteid's grocery shop, on the north side of Scott's shop, would also-go, especially as a southerly breeze had sprung up, and was carrying Lhe flames and sparks in that direction. Fortunately thero was space of several feet between these latter two shops ; a bucket brigade was also formed for*. keeping a flow of water upon the roof of Reid's building, and, as a result, the flames were prevented from further spreading. It was quite two hours after the outbreak before the danger from the lire spreading was overcome, and then jets of water had to be played on to the burning mass for two or three hours afterwards, in order to keep down further outbreaks. During the progress of the fire several loud reports wore heard, which were probably due to the explosion of jars of acid in the chemist’s shop.

How the lire originated is a complete mystery, and is likely to remain so. Several persons passed the building in question about one o’clock, among them being Constable Ifipscouibo, and they all say there was not the least sign of firo then. Mr Thomas, brother to the dentist, appears to have first discovered the outbreak. He states that he was lying in his bed dozing off to sleep, when lie hoard a noise as of a rat gnawing the linoleum in his room. He immediately got up and passed out of the room into the adjoining passage, when he heard a crackling noise, and smell, lhe fumes of smoko, and without further warning the flames burst through the partition (livid ing the passage from the chemist shop. He sprang back at once into his bedroom, and awakened his brother, by which time the flames had burst into their room, and both had fo jump out of the window into the backyard. They immediately gave the alarm, and awakened Mr Cullen find his family, Imt the flames had in the meantime spread so rapidly that Mr Cullen, with considerable difficulty, rescued his wife and two children, and also his sister-in-law and her daughter, the whole of them escaping with but their night clothes on, there not being time to save anything, so rapidly did the flames spread. Mr Cullen is a heavy loser by the tire, as he had no insurance on his furniture and effects, all of which wore destroyed. His stock was valued at fully X3OOO and his furniture at X 350. His sister-in-law, Mrs H. Meachcm, who resided with him, also loses property to the value of about X2OO. lie had insurances to the extent o.f X .1-150 on his stock only. Mr Scott's grocery stock was valued at from .02500 to .C‘3odo,-upon which there is X 1250 insurance. His storeman, Mr A. Turner, who, with his family resided on the premises, also loses all his furniture and effects, just escaping with the clothes they had on. Mr Thomas, dentist, valued his stock-in-trade, furniture, and dental appliances at XSOO, on which there was Xl5O insurance only. The chemist business in the estate of the late F. ,T. Bay also loses considerably, for although there was X9OO insurance, tho loss over and above that sum is several hundred pounds.

Tho owners of the buildings occupied by Alossrs Cullen and Thomas, and Hay’s chemist shop are tho Misses Irvines, who reside in Auckland. They were insured for a total sum of dll 100, hut lose considerably over that amount. The Hon. Mr McGowan owns tho building occupied by Mr Scott, which was insured for £6OO. Mr Palmer, confectioner, loses to the extent of about £27 10s on his back store, and £25 on the front store, the latter only being insured for £3og. Mr W. ,D. Reid's shop and stock arc thuuaged. to the extent of between £5 and £lO.

During the progress of the fire the police, under Sergeant Clarke, rendered valuable assistance in keeping back tho immense crowd of spectators that had assembled, and the tiro brigade, under Superintendent Burns and Captain Addison, rendered yeoman service in suppressing the flames and preventing further loss. During the progress of the tiro the roof of Mr D. Henderson's workshop in Cochrano-street was ignited by sparks dropping upon it, and sparks also set fire to a rubbish heap in tho back yard of Mr Chapman's sta> tioncry shop, but in each instance the outbreak was noticed at once and suppressed before any damage was done. The various insurance otlices affected by the fire and the amounts insured therein are as follows :—The New Zealand Insurance Company had a policy of £BSO on Cullen's stock and £BOO on Palmer’s shop. The Royal Company had £6OO on- Cullen's shop and fittings in the rn’YV.e of Miss Irvine, and £4BO on Bay's stock and fixtures. The Liverpool and

London and Globe Company had £l5O on Thomas’ stock and furniture, £2OO on the building in Miss Irvine's name, £3OO on Bay's shop in Miss Irvine's name, and £420 on Bay's stock and fixtures. The Victoria Company had £750 on Scott’s stock. The United Company had also £SOO on Scott's stock, and the North British and Mercantile Company £6OO on Scott’s store in Mr McGowan's name, and £ioo on Beid's store in Mr McGowan's rame. The Commercial Union had £3OO on Cullen’s stock, and the Phoenix Companv £BOO on Cullen’s stock. Mr Reids stock is insured in the Standard, Sun, and North Queensland offices, but the loss is nominal in this latter instance. "