FIRES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2813, 12 February 1908, Page 40

FIRES.

A fire, which was fortunately unattended with senous lesults, wa<s observed in the Port Chalmers Freezing Works about 6.30 a.m. on Sunday by Air Magnus, one of the Union Steam Ship Company's watchmen. In response to his a'arni, Constable Smart and Mr B. Wool«oy were promptly on the scene, and with a few buckets of water kept the flames in check until the arrival of the fire brigade a minute or two later, when the fire was quickly extinguished, the damage done beinar estimated at loss thai £5 It is surmised that the fire was caused by a spark igniting a, quantity of soot and fine coal-dust abo\o one of the boilers, whence it was communicated to the roof support*-, but owing to it» prompt dis-co-very the fiie was suppressed before the flames had an oppoilunity to do much da-mage

Shoitlv after midnight on Friday. at Middlemareli. a thipe-rcoined cottage, owned by Mr W. Anderson, of Timaiu. and ocoupied by James M "Donald, a cadet in the raiUvuv office, was totalh destroyed by fire. Mr? M'Donakl and child left Middlemarch for Dunedin on Wednesday, and theie had been no fire in the hout-e since Fndav morning. Mr M 'Donald returned home about 10.15 p.m. He lit a lamp and broke some wood, retiring to bed about 10.30. He was awakened a little after midnight by a noise, and diseo\oied the hout-e to be on firo, the flames having burned through (he wall to the bedroom, and he had to escape through the window, saving only a few article- of clothing-. It i-s surmired that tho fire wu* cawed by the match with which Mr M'Donald lit the lamp ha\ mR" been caielesslv thrown into the pantry. Tho house was insured in the Royal office for £150. and the furniture in the New Zealand office for £75. DARGAVILLE February 3. A fire at Kaihu on Sunday morning destroyed a block of buildings comprising Oliver's store. G. Lineham's store"" and billiard room, and J. Linham's store and dwelling. Insurance*. £1200. The loss is much m exce-s of this sum HASTINGS. February 3. A fire was discovered in the Hawke's Bay Motor Gaiage on Saturday at 10 p.m. between the lining boaids and dividing wall, but was promptly extinguished. There i-> a strong -uspicion of incendiarism. The police are in-\ e^tigating the matter. NEW PLYMOUTH. February 3. A 'ix-romed hou-e at Midhirst. owned ami occupied by Mr 11. Robertson, was totally destroyed by fire la*t night. The building was insured for £200. and tho contents foi £100 in the State office. (From Ova Own Correspondent.) | OAMARU. February 3. A two-'torey wooden buildma; at Waimate, owned by the Rev. G. Barclay and occupied by Mis Cornelius as a boarding-hou-e. was destioyed by fiie early on Sunday morning. The landlady letired at 0 30 a.m., when e"\ erything was apparently secure. The fiie was obsei'Ned about 2 a.m.. when it had a strong hold. Some of the lodgers had a nairow escape, and i lost most of their effects, as the fire spread rapidly. Good ser\ice was rendered by the brigade in pre\enting the fire attacking neighbouiing building*. The house was insured for £400 in the Government office, and the furnituie for £250 in the United office. j

Nearly all bats ha-ve the faculty of hibernating. Their hibernation, however, is not perfect —that is to say, thit when the warm days occur in the middle of wmtar thsy wake up, together with the insects which are iheir food. Still, theirs is a true hibernation trance, diffeiing fiom 3leep. with a very low rate of pulse, heart action, and respiration. Probabh they would endure jmmer«ion in water for an hour oi' two without drowning, as other hibernators hate been found to do.