A CURIOUS EXPERIENCE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8937, 1 October 1907, Page 2

A CURIOUS EXPERIENCE.

Tolsgraiih Poles on Fire. Per Press Association. CnmsTdiUECH-. October 1. Shortly after II o’clock to-day a fire broke out in the most remarkable of places, the top of a telegraph polo at the corner of Gloucester Street and Oxford Terrace. The cause of tho tiro is obscure hut tho flames broke cut fiercely in one of the distributing boxes by which ; the wires in the metallic current cables arc shut up. Among tho telephone subscribers tho first effect was to sot all tho telephones on that section ringing. A crowd soon gathered and water was pumped on the top of tho polo from an adjoining building but made so little progress l that; tho chemical engine had to bo scut from the fire brigade station and it extinguished tho flames.

JTho fire scorns to have been caused by a house, which was beiug'moved, coming into contact with the telephone cables, at any rate fire in the box practically coincided with tho incident. Mews also reached tho firoTstaticn that similar fires occurred on the poles in Victoria Street and other parts of tho city and suburbs, tho belief being that tho moving of tho house caused contact with tho tramway cables and so extensive fusion occurred affecting all sections radiating from tho point of contact. All the fires have been extinguished and no serious damage has been d ono.