THE RAILWAY STATION FIRE.

NZ Truth, Issue 69, 13 October 1906, Page 4

THE RAILWAY STATION FIRE.

> > Idiotic Action Causes Heavy Loss.

When a big fire breaks out m Christehuroh some day, or if two or more happen at the same time, the apathetic, dunder-headed citizens will at once decide to get a proper highpressure water supply. The out-break at the railway station on Tuesday night was a nice spectacle to look at, but a very costly one for the Government and owners of the .enormous stock it contained. Luckily there were no Exhibition exhibits m the building, which was 70 yards m length. Tho much vaunted railway fire brie;ad^ was on the spot m no time but as fate would have it : the large tank which they first connected with was empty, it being m course of repair. Recourse was instantly had to the second one, but it was m the same condition, much to the chagrin of the fire-fighters. Now, think .'of the antedeluvian intellect responsible for a silly action of that sort ! Both tanks .heed not have been emptied at once. Then there was a long delay before the town brigade was summoned. Indeed it was a case of blunder all through. A curious thing about the business was that a large number of rrfen were working m the shed at the tin\e and no one noticed anything wrpiig until an outside than apmised them of the fact. One is loth to believe that there is anything fishy at the back of the affair, but it is to be hoped the inquiry will be open to the Press.