Fires.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 23 May 1891, Page 2

Fires.

, » On Friday morning about quarter past four, the grooiii who sleeps ia ft . room adjoining the stables attached A to Whyte's hotel, was awoke by the sound of flames crackling close to him. He jumped up and ran to arouse Mr Stansell, who however had been previously warned by a Mr Kells, who ran down the street calling out " fire." He woke up Mr Walls, who rang the firebell. Mr Stansell first awoke his lodgers. The first premises on fire was the stable belonging to Mr Thynne on the adjoining property, and seeing the time that the fire broke out, it can only be accounted for by supposing that some loafer had taken up his quarters there, and had by smoking, set the litter alight. When the house-* hold had been aroused Mr Thynne's stable and shed was totally destroyed and the stable at Whyte's was only just catching. All hands worked hard getting water and throwing it on the building, but the loft being full of hay, and having caught fire, it was of little use. The groom, with assistance, got the har* ness and saddles out of the building. A small building and a fenoe connecting the stables with another stable which had caught a light, was pulled down and water thrown on the sides and roof of the adjoining stables. Fortunately there was no wind, and after the fire had gutted the stable, the end wall was pushed down upon the burning mass, and thus the spread of fire to the adjoining buildings was saved. The accident is unfortunate in so far as a loss of property has been incurred, but it is fortunate that such a fire occurred in such a place at such a time, and doing so little damage, comparatively. It is hard to say who particularly did the best, but amongst them were Messrs McMillan, Mathias, J. R. Stansell, and his two elder sons, and Constable Gillespie, besides a number of neighbours, amongst whom was a Salvation Army member. The water was obtained from pumps and tanks, the pump failing after a time owing to the heat drying up the sucker. Mr rhynne's buildings were uninsured, and the loss may be estimated at £30. Mrs Whyte's stables were fully insured in the Standard Company. Mr Stansell lost about eight tons of hay.

Yesterday afternoon Mr Spiers had a small fire at his mill. It appears that a spark from the engine caught on some tow by the scutching^ shed, setting it immediately ah'gW^jßFortunately it was at once norffeed and every help rendered, the adjoining mills, Rutherford's and Austin's, stopping and their hands hastening to lend a hand. With a good supply cf water and many hands, the fire was got out with only about £10 damages.