FIRES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8772, 26 March 1907, Page 2

FIRES.

Press Association. Wellington, March 2G. A fire broke out this morning iu a three-storey wooden building iu the centre of the city, occupied by Field, Luckie and Toogood, lawyers, and other tenants. The fire was confined to the building which was practictically gutted. Owing to the break in the Waiuui-Omata water main which has not yet been repaired the water pressure, at the fire was not very strong, but when the. steal# pumping engine got to work the flames were quickly extinguished. Fortunately there was no wind or the ’ block of wooden buildings adjoining would probably have gone. This is the first fire since the break in the water service. Later. The building destroyed by fire this morning was owned by the estate of tbo late W. A, Fitsherbert. The fire has made it- clear that if an outbreak had occurred at any distance from where water could be pumped from the harbour it would have been next door to impossible to stop it if it got good hold by ipeail ox the present water supply. The pipe at the bridge at- the Hutt, however, was repaired this morning, aud the laying of the pipes will be put iu baud at ouico, so that the main water supply from Waimu-o-mata is expected to bo available bofore the end of the week.