FIRE AT GREYMOUTH

Hokitika Guardian, 9 November 1925, Page 1

FIRE AT GREYMOUTH

THU EE BUILDINGS DESTORY' ED. GKEYMOFTH, Nov. 9. An outbreak of fire completely destroyed a block of wooden buildings adjoining Harley’s warehouse in Richmond Quay, at an early hour yesterday morning. The buildings were a boardinghouse of fourteen rooms, owned hy Aliss A Johnston, a large garage and store room, used hy Alessrs Harley and Co. in connection, with their warehouse, and a small stable and - Lath” at the hack of the storeroom, owned hy Air T. Dillon, of Koiuku. Being of wood. and old, the building.-, burnt like tinder, and the glare, ol the conflagration could lie seen for seicral miles around, and attracted a largo crowd of spectators. Ihe ahum was given at- about 3.50 a.in. by a lodger in the boardinghouse, Mr Fred Col-

ville. carpenter, who was awakened by flames coming through the floor of his bedroom; and shortly afterwards the Brigade was on the scene, and commenced in battle with the outbreak which hy 11ml- time had a strong hold in Harley’s storeroom, while a stiff easterly wind fanned the flames and added to the task of the firemen. The Brigade was at lirsi hampered hy lack of sufficient water pressure, and the

Lcnill lire cn^iiH 1 was failed into tomussion and three leads connected with

I lie river, by the aid of which pressure was maintained on three leads, while a further two were maintained lioni the Borough water supply. After considerable work the (lames were overcome. the damage being confined to these buildings. The boardinghouse was insured by the Hokitika Savings Bank for £3CO. ami with Hie Royal Insurance Company lor LlllO. Inn it is anticipated that the proprietress will he the loser by £7(10. Harley’s building was insured for £H)00, and the contents for £2OO in I lie Alliance Assurance Cov., ami tliev estimate their loss at £2(100. >•<> figures arc available in regard to Air Dillon’s buildings. The wooden buildings soon began io disintegrate, like a house ol raids, sheets of roofing iron and burning debris falling into an adjoining section in which there was a considerable quantity of old limber, which was soon burning fiercely. At about -1.30 a.m. the roofing of the storeroom fell in with an alarming crash, amid a fountain ol sparks, which rose high above the suirounding buildings, while the Haines now fed h,v fresh fuel, rose nbofe (he belching smoke clouds. At- fen minutes to five. th« whole front portion of the storerooms leant perilously forward and overhung the foot lipalli from which three liremon were playing a hose. They gallanliy continued at. their task, hut ion seconds later the entire wall collapsed, crashing down with a deaiening roar upon the spot from which the three men bail only just sprung, by a miracle, uninjured. Two otlo-r firemen had a narrow escape from serious injury. when a (in roof some 12ft above the ground, on which they were standing collapsed suddenly precipitating them to Hie ground. They escaped absolutely unharmed.

rt was' found that the collapse of the wall had cut off some two hundred feet of hose, which was damaged, hut other leads were quickly procured in their stead, and the play <>f water maintained. The Brigade, realised that the storeroom was doomed, concentrated their attention to preventing the llames from spreading to the adjoining buildings, the nearest a Chinese laundry, and to Robertson’s livery stables at the rear. Fortunately the brick wall of Harley’s warehouse acted as a barrier on one side, while a vacant section on the other side, and an-

other brick wall on its margin, prevented the outbreak from spreading to the buildings in that direction, the burning timber being easily kept under control. Riordan’s bakery, just across the right o'way that dissects the block escaped undamaged. ft was found, however, that the Chinese laundry on the west side of the vacant section had become ignited and it was only by pulling down a rear gable of this building that the hre was prevented from spreading furtner along the Quay, to the Phoenix buildings and the Oriental Hotel. By concentrated effort the Brigade quelled this outbreak before it got a good hold while they also succeeded in saving the front part of the boardinghouse.