HEAVY DAMAGE

Hokitika Guardian, 26 April 1933, Page 5

HEAVY DAMAGE

TIMBER MILL FIRE

£20,000 LOSS AT CHRISTCHURCH

(Per Press Association — Copyright

CHRISTCHURCH, April 25

One of the largest timber a nd joinery works in Christchurch, . -Bardie and Thomson’s mill at th e extreme end oi ■Colombo (Street, was completely de stroyed by fire early this morning.

The damage to the mall and to the houses adjoining it on three -sides is estimated at £20,000. Strong forces from the Christchurch and St. Albans Fire Brigades had the utmost difficulty in keeping the fire within an area of about one acre, which is occupied by the works, and had the wind been keener, or from a quartet other than the south-west, it is practically certain that The whole .block would have been swept away. All the machinery of th e mill was destroyed -beyond repair, as we'll! :as the greate r part- of 1,000,000 superficial feet of matured timber that \va fi stacked around jt-. Prank Salter, the tenant of a house backing on to the mill, from Colombo -Street, was burned about the face and hands, and h<* had to be treated at the Christchurch Hospital. Bis four childseen also had a narrow' rtcnpa-- when -the burst.-d.vitoy the sleeping porch and his house facing on Slierbourno?i&trtet7 had to be evacuated at about 3 a.m., hut (boy were fortunate,, lv saved from maior damage, through the concentrated efforts of the firemen. The origin of the .fire has not been determined, and Mr William Thomson, managing directo?' of the firm, states emphatically that it could not have been accidental. “You can put it how you like, but I suspect someone,” he sajd to a reporter to-day. The police are ms'king investigations.

BRIGADE DELAY CRITICISED.

Mr Thomson also criticised the Christchurch Fire Brigade for its delay in reaching the fire, but ; Deputy-Superin-tendent 0. J. Blake, who . was is charge 'of the Brigade, declared that the first lead of hose was .being directed on to the .-flames from Sherbourti'e Street not more than six minute# afjter :the//automatic '.fire alarm' registered - At / . the Christchurch Station.

The following properties, owned by Hardi e and Thomson, Ltd,, or by Mr Thomson personally,. were damaged fey fire:—.

The whale of. the plant and buildings and 90 per cent, of the stacked . timber nt the firm’s works at 1062 Colombo Street. ■ ‘ ■ .

Th e rear of rn unoccupied shop at 1062 A Colombo Street, A billiard room at, the rear of a. tobacconist shop,' occupied by Keith Smith, at 1062 Colombo Street;

The back °f a shop ; and bouse at 1062 Colombo Street, occupied respectively by Albert Frank Salter and Mr? F. MacDonald, The 'rear of the house was badly gutted, land a motor shed-on his property, housing a touring 1 car, owned by a neighbour, Gordon R. Hay man, was destroyed. The house at 135, Sherbourno Street, occupied by H. Rieper. The fi-’e caught thjs house at the back, burned the walls badly, and ran along the roof to the front,

The hous e at 133, She.rbourne Street, occupied by J. Mora. The damage to the roof and rear of his house was severe, though not so extensive as at 135.

Mr Thomson estimates, the loss ' on all-these properties at £20.000. of which he says, only a v oat one third is covered by insurances l with the Hartford, New Zealand and Sun Offices. The insurances pn the timber m ill were recenTly^rjcdyicedg,

The houses on two other properties were blistered and scorched. They were the house at 1066, Colombo 'Street occupied by Gordon R. Dayman, and the house at 131, Sherbowne Street, owned gild occupied bv W. G. Lockwood. The fences at the back of these and of several other houses and shops fronting on to Edgeware Road were, wholly or partially destroyed. Hardie and Thomson’s plant was considered to he one of the most complete and up-to-date in New Zealand. It contained very little shafting, and independent electric motors were coupled with practically every machine. Altogether 40 : of these electric motors were lost in the, fire. .... A stock of 2000 doors was also destroyed. The timber stacks contained a. great deal of valuable matured timber. including figured rimu and Southland beech. There was also a f airily large stock of glass and other builders’ materials. Two motor trucks and a cart belonging to the firm were lost.

The Brigade was still at work fat this evening, and watches are- to b maintained all night.