FIRE IN THE CITY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16486, 27 February 1914, Page 2

FIRE IN THE CITY.

HUNSLEY’S SAWMILLLNG WORKS GUTTED. HEAVY LOSSES. The sawmilling work's owned by William Hunsley in Colombo Street south, j near Moorhouse Avenue, and next door ’ to Mitchell’s furniture warehouse, were. completely gutted shortly after four j o’clock yesterday morning. ] Had it not been for the heavy rainj which cairie with the sou’-wester, it is probable that the fire would have extended considerably, but the wood in the yards surrounuuig tue conflagration was damp, and did hot catch very easily. The alarm for the fire was given from five separate boxes. The first one received at the lire brigade station waa from the corner of Gloucester Street and Colombo Street at three minutes past four o’clock. . i Tho brigade was on tho scene m quick time. The chemical engines, the motors, the small ‘ ‘ Astor’.’ motor and a full complement of men turned out, but the fire had got a very big hold. Dense volumes of smoke were , issuing from the burning building,’.and the strong southerly wind materially helped the flames in their work of destruction. • ! Mitchell’s building was -saved by. the wind, which blew the flames in the other direction, aiid the wall-was onlyscorched. The heat was'very intense. The shop windows on the other side of the street were split and cracked, and, the paint was raised in big blisters on the woodwork. The telegraph wires outside the building were also burnt away. ’The fire made a clean sweep of the whole building.' After about two and a half hours’ work the brigade wero able to gain control,, but not before the contents bad been completely destroyed. The machinery in most cases was all buckled and twisted. ‘The main boilers at the southern end of the outbreak came through the fire with-less damage than might have been supposed. ‘ 1 Tho * building was a . two-storeyed one, and the ground floor was occupied by Mr Hunsley as offices. The ‘first floor was occupied by Messrs Wilkinson 1 Bros., cabinetmakers, who had a large workshop fitted up with machinery.! This was insured in the Phcenix Insur-i ance Companv for £l5O, but there wasj stock to the value of £IOO which was| completely lost;. 1 There was no insurance on the ma-i chinery or building itself. Messrs Rantin Bros, had £6O worth of timber, all burnt. Mr Keighley had a •small, stock of timber valued, at between £3O and £4O which was partly burnt.' Messrs J. D. Brown and Co. had soma timber damaged which was uninsured j The night-watchman passed'.on,, his round at half-past three that morning and there were no signs of fire then.! Half an hour afterwards the fire broke out.