Destructive Fire.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 September 1922, Page 4

Destructive Fire.

AT MeG LASH AX’S GARAGE. FOUR CARS AND STOCK LOST. GRKYMOUTH, Sept. 20. The Chapel Street fireball, rung by Messrs J. O’Brien and A. Behan, shortly before 11.30 o’clock last night, was the sonorous intimation to townspeople of a very destructive fire in Taiimi Street, opposite the Opera House, which had by then obtained a strong hold upon the Garage of Mr Bert MrGhishan.. The alarm was not taken up by the bell at the Central Station for some minutes, but as soon as it was, the Fire Brigade were speedily oil the scene.

The flames, however, wore by this time breaking into the air well above the roof. It appeared that the water was not turned oil quite as quickly as usual, but the instant the hoses did get to work the Firemen made a very noticeable impression. Less than n quarter of an hour before, Constable Shine passed the garage, noticing that Mr David Ilcwarth, who is a motor driver in the employ of Mr McGlasiian, was then taking a ear into the building. The constable stated he thought he saw Mr Howartli with a benzine tin in his hand at the time, hut Mr Me(Jlnshnn later explained that there was no petrol in the garage whatever, except what was in the tanks of the cars.

Seen liv an “Argus” reporter just after the lire started, Mr II ewa ltl showed the effects of an ordeal. His coat was incinerated all around the shoulders, while bis right band was enclosed in a rough bandage, it evident l.i having lie'll severely burned, while Lis otherliand was also injured, and be was naturally upset. He remarked that the car lie bad been handling lone of the buses) as it went in just back fired, and ti e-blaze resulted The outbreak was evidently very sudden. the benzine in the tank probably going up in a flash, thus accounting for the state of the motor driver, wlr bad evidently just got away in tinr. for bis own safety. When the fire broke out I here wer no lower than four motor vehicles ii

the garage, and as soon as spectators arrived they could see that all were doomed. The four machines were:— A Hudson six-cylinder ear, which last year cost the owner £800; an Overland, and the two well-known motor buses which for some time past have been plying regularly between Groymouth and Cobdeil.

Accompanied by slight mill] led reports, the lire soon spread all over the interior of the garage, destroying about £3OO worth of stock (chiefly tyresi and rendering the ears useless. The tyres of one or two remained, with the , metal framework, but it was plain ! when the Brigade bad extinguished the • flames, that none of the machines would be worth anything. Mr Mc- ; Glasliau estimated his loss at about £2,000. Ilis only insurance is £6OO on tlie two buses. The fire was quite

out by midnight. The building be-longs-to the .Masonic Lodge, whose insurance is not yet known. The cottage next to the garage, also owned by the Masonic Lodge, appeared certain lo go at the outset, as the wind was blowing the flames towards it, but the structure escaped, only the side be ing damaged, some small flames on the roof being quickly put out.. This cottage was formerly occupied by Air Geo. Morrison, who has latterly been rcsidlii,, lit H-lnl.-ofi.u-tt but wits nctnnilv oil

the eve of returning to the cottage to-day. lie ..illy clontu-d it up yestcr , day iii preparation for re-entering to- | day, fait bad r.o furniture installed, j Another peculiar feature ol Hi" lire | was the good luck of Messrs Armstrong an-i Douglas, the well-known Maekayl Street grocers. For a long time past i they have been accustomed to park • their motor lorry at AltGlasban’s gar-; age, but last night, when the drivearrived to put the vehicle in, be found the doors closed, and therefore took the lorry to Steer’s garage. ; 'l'lie telephone pole in front of the! garage took fire, and the wires wore all rendered useless, falling to the ground. The lire seems to have l>:cn a piece of particularly bad luck for Air AlcGlaslitm, who is a heavy loser.