PORT CHALMERS FIRE.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 February 1919, Page 2

PORT CHALMERS FIRE.

fI’ER PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT.]' DUNEDIN, Feb. 24.

A wool shed and offices at Port Chalmers, belonging to John Mill and Co., were destroyed by fire to-day. The shed contained a considerable quantity of flax tow and canned meat ready for export, besides dumping plant, boiler and engines. There was only a small quantity of wool in the store, owing to several thousand hales having been shipped by the Verdun during the past few days. The fire started during the lunch hour, commencing behind the offices. The water supply from the main could not cope with the blaze and a hoso from the tug “Plucky” was requisitioned without avail. Air Mill left for the North this morning. Shortly before I p.m., a telephone message was received the Dunedin Fire Brigade qsking for assistance, but owing to the distance, and acting under instructions from the Fire Board, the request was refused. About 200 bales of wool owned by the Imperial Government, and stored’ by Donald Reid and Co., and Wright Stephenson was destroyed. The insurance ion the contents is distributed amongst various offices, and the exact amounts are not available. Tho building was insured for Cl-00 in the Commercial Union Office and £3OO in the Standard Office.