SERIOUS FIRE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 515, 26 April 1933, Page 3

SERIOUS FIRE

(Press Assn.-

HEAVY DAMAGE LARGE CHRISTCHURCH TIMBER MILLS CQMPLETELY DESTROYED IN CENDI ARI SM ALLEGED

— By Telegraph — Copyright).

Christchurch, Tuesday* One of the largest timber and joinery works in Christchurch, Hardie and Thomson's mill at the extreme northern end of Colombo Street, v/as completely destroyed by fire early this morning. Damage to the mill and to the houses adjoining it on three sides is estimated at £20,000. Strong forces from the Christchurch and St. Albans \fire brigad'es had the utmost difficulty in keeping the fire within the area, about one acre of which is occupied by the works, and had the wind been keener or from another quarter than south-westerly, • it is practically certain that the whole block would have been swept av/ay. i All the machinery of the mill was destroyed beyond repair, as well as the greater part of millions of superficial feet of matured timber that was stacked around. Frank Salter, a tenant of a house backing on to the mill, from Colombo Street, was burned about the face and hands, and had to be treated at the Christchurch hospital. His four children had a narrow escape when the flames burst into the sleep- j ing porch and bedroom of his house. Three other houses facing Sherbourne Street. had to be evacuated about 3 a.m. but they were fortunately saved from major damage through the concentrated efforts of the firemen. The origin of the fire has not heen determined. Mr. William Thomson, managing director of the firm, stated emphatically that it could not have been accidental. "You can put it how you like, I suSpect someone," he said to a reporter to-day. The police are making investigations. Mr. Thomson also criticised the Christchurch fire hrigade for its delay in reaching the fire, but the deputy superintendent, Mr. C. J. Blake, who was in charge of the brigade, declared the the first lead of hose was being directed on to the flames from Sherbourne Street not more than six minutes after the automatic fire alarm registered at the Christchurch station. Extensive Damage The following properties, owned by Hardie and Thomson, Ltd., or Mr. B. S. Thomson, personally were damaged by the fire: The whole of the plant and buildings and 90 per cent. of the stacked timber at the firm's works at 1062 Colombo Street, the fences of William Thomson's property at 1054 Colombo Street,- the rear of an unoceupied shop at 1062a Colombo Street, a billiard room at the rear of a tobacconist's shop, occupied by Keith Smith, 1062b Colombo Street the back of a shop and house at 1064 Colombo Street, occupied respectively by Albert Frank Salter and Mrs. F. MacDonald. The rear of the house was badly gutted and a motor shed on this property housing- a touring car owned by a neighbour, Mr. Gordon R. Hayman, v/as destroyed. A house at 135 Sherbourne Street, occupied by II. Reiper, was also destroyed. The fire caught this house at the back and burned the walls and ran along the roof to the front. The house at 133 Sherbourne treet, occupied by J. Mora, was damaged in the roof and the rear, though not so extensively as No. 135. Mr. Thomson estimated the loss on all properties at £20,000, and he said that about one third is covered by insurance with the Hartford, New Zealand and Sun Gffices. The insurance on the timber had' been recently reduced. Hardie and Thomson's plant was considered to be one of the most complete and up-to-date in New Zealand. It contained very little shafting, and independent eleetric motors were coupled with practically every machine. Altog-ether 40 of these motors were lost in the fire. A stock of 2000 doors was also destroyed. The timber stacks contained a great deal of valuable matured timber, including figured rimu, and Southland birch. There was also a fairly large stock of glass and other builders' material. Two motor trucks and a cart belonglng to the firm were also lost. The brigade was still at work at 6 o'clock this evening and a watch is being maintained all night.