PUKEKOHE'S THIRD FIRE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 32, 27 April 1915, Page 2

PUKEKOHE'S THIRD FIRE.

Outbreak Early Yesterday. Wild Rumours. Pukekohe had another fire sensation early yesteniay morning when the fire-bell rang out to summon the services of the Brigade and it was a strange ana unwelcome coincidence that the scene of the outbreak was found to be in near proximity to that of the two previous fires, namely at the lower end of the town near the railway bridge. The property affected by yesterdays conflagration was the building at the foot of [East Street hill used as a plumbing works and sr-.ow room by Mr T. E. Skinner. Driving home from the country with a triend about 2.30 a.m., Mr C. C. Marsack, managing clerk for Mr H. 0. R. Mason, solicitor, noticed that the premises were on fire and he quickly gave the alarm. The Fire Brigade turned out with great promptitude, but as luck happened the pressure reduction valve that regulates at tin foot of Pukekohe Hill the supply of water to the town proved temporarily defective, and as a result only a poor pressure uf water was for some little time available. A messenger was despatched t>i the residence of Mr Wyatt, the waterworks engineer, who had cot been awakened by the riie-bell, and he immediately proceeded to the valve and found that the defect had just righted itself. Strong pressure was then available, but by that time the fire had obtained too firm a hold on thfl building to avoid its destruction, but efforts were successful in preventing its spread to the timber yard adjoining.

A large crowd of onlookers assembled, and the work of the Brigade was to some extent hindered by tbe tendency of the public to render well-meant assistance, which however only had quite a contrary effect. For instance, the front window of the shop was broken by some of the "outsiders," acting under the impression that the fire could be more easily attacked from the aperture thus created, whereas was that the accession of air unly fanned the flames into greater force. It was some three hours beiora the firemen left their posts of duty and by that time there was little left of the large building and its contents.

There is little doubt but that the source of outbreak of the lire was in the office adjoining the shop, and that it spread therefrom with quick rapidity both to the workrooms in the rear and to the shop in front. The origin of the tire is a mystery. The premises were left intact when work ceased for the day about noon on Saturday. Mr Skinner states that on Sunday evening about 10.45 p.m. on his way home he opened the front door of the shop and without actually entering the building he obtained his overcoat, whicfi he haa left hanging up just inside the dnor. He certainly did not enter the office, hut everything was then apparently secure, and he proceeded to his house some distance out of the town Mr Skinner estimates the value of his stock of tools, implements, etc., at £4OO and was only covered to the extent of £2OO by insurance with the Liverpool, London and Glnbe office. The building was owned by the Bradbury estate and was insured with the State office for £IOO, its value being about £3OO.

The feeling of uncertainty produced by the series of tires all in the same locality was responsible yesterday for various rumours of an alarmist nature. Thus it was said that the water supply had been deliberately tampered with, but Mr Wyatt, as stated above, found that the pressure defect was purely accidental. Again it was rumoured that attempts had been made to destroy the Fire Brigade's hose, and although there was some small vestige of truth in this latter report it hardly had any connection with yesterday's outbreak. The hose had been left drying for a few days in the yard attached to the fire station, and on Sunday morning it was found that a knife cut of about two inches in length had been made in one length of hose, possibly by boys or as an act of hooliganism by some person of more mature years.