FIRES.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2743, 7 January 1882, Page 2

FIRES.

TWO FIRES IN CHRISTCHURCH* Two destructive fires occurred in Christchurch last night, by one of which the Union Bank in Hereford street was gutted, the other destroying Mr Reese’s timber yard in Durham street. We take the following account from the “ Lyttelton Times” of this morning :

The very unusual circumstance of two fires, a considerable distance apart, breaking out almost simultaneously, occurred just about midnight. The respective localities were the Union Bank, Hereford street, and Mr D. Reese’s timber yard, Durham street. Shortly before midnight Constable M'Gorman, who was on duty in Here* ford street, noticed a strong smell of fire, and for a-time was unsuccessful in his efforts to trace the cause of the smell, At length he perceived a light upstairs in the ■ Union Bank shining through the south-east window. Seeing that the place was on fire, he roused the servants in the private house belong, ing to the Bank, Mr Palmer the Chief Officer, and his family, being away at Burnham. From the Bank he drove in a cab to the Lichfield Fire Brigade station, where he gave the alarm, and despatched a.cab for Superintendent Harris. Meantime the flames burst forth from the timber yard between Lichfield and Tuam streets, and the bell of the Chester street station rang out. The Brigade and fire Police lost no time in getting out the engines, and very soon the Extinguisher was stationed at Lane’s Mill, the Deluge at the Cashel street bridge, and the handengine at St. Michael’s Church. The Hook and Ladder Company also were promptly at their posts. From first the substantial character of the Bank building rendered it pretty certain that the adjoining buildings would escape. A great force of steam, 801 b, and pressure of water, 1201 b, was put on, and two hose were brought to play upon the flames. After about an hour the fire was pretty well got under, and in another half hour the engine ceased to throw water upon it. At half-past one, though the staircase and a portion of the ceiling of the banking-room were still smouldering and occasionally bursting into flame, the fire was virtually extinguished. The alarm at the Timber yard was' first given to Mr Reese, whose private house is in Lichfield street close to the business premises, by some man whose, name we could not ascertain. Mr Reese, who has only recently returned from Dunedin, and who is suffering from iudisposition, hurried to his office with the hope of rescuing his books, but was unable to succeed. As, however, they were in a good strong safe they will probably be found uninjured. The fire burnt fiercely from the beginning and the flames illuminated the town for some hours. At first it was feared that the horses—six in number —would be burned, and it was with difficulty that they were saved. It was found necessary to have recourse to blindfolding the animals with sacks before they could be induced to move.

Tlio Hire in tlio biink is believed to have originated in the chief officer’s room upstairs, and was confined to that floor, which was divided into only two rooms. What was the cause is quite beyond conjecture. The bank was closed at the usual time, and the last to leave was Mr Wilmer, who saw everything secure at 7 o’clock. Messrs Wil mcr and Gottenll wore in the private premises. The chief officer had been in his room till 4 o’clock, and Messrs Brittan and Wright had been at work there till about half an hour later.

The lire in the timber yard appears to have originated about the middle of the premises, vory much in the same position as was the case some years ago when the same phi.., caught fire. The heat from the burning timber was excessive, and for sumo time it seemed probable that tbe cottages in the immediuto neighborhood would be ignited. Fortunately, however, there was no wind, and the proximity of the river ensuring an ample supply of water the Brigade, wiio worked with a will, managed not only to prevent the fire from spreading, but also to save some of tlio timber in the yard and the stables. The promises and stock were insured in the Now Zealand Company for £21300, which would not probably cover the loss. Mr

Uecse estimates the value of his slock, &c., at £4OOO or £SOOO. and comparatively but a small portion was saved. After the foregoing was written the flames hurst nut at the bank, and about 2 o’clock the water had again to be played’on them. Not till half-past three was the fire entirely extinguished, as the firemen had great difficulty in getting at the cornice of the building (which was of wood) and. the ceiling joists. - . FIRE IN OXFORD BUSH. On Thursday morning a fire sprang up in the Oxford Bush, about a mile behind Messrs Feary Bros.’ sawmill. Towards the afternoon, a heavy nor’wester spread the fire south-eastwards, towards Messrs Feary Bros.’ mills, burning with terrible fierceness. For Innately no buildings of any value were destroyed, but very large quantities of timber, and about two miles of bush tramway, and a large quantity of fencing have been burned. All the residents and the hands at the sawmills within a ew miles turned out to assist .in saving property. The houses along the bush were cleared of their.contents, all the available horses, drays and waggons being made use of for this purpose. It was only by the utmost exertion that the cottages in the vicinity of Feary’s mill were saved, the fire having one side burned to within 10 feet of the walls, and on the western side destroying a couple of small outbuildings. The men were engaged most of the night in keeping the fire from spreading towards the many dwellings in the vicinity, and putting out sparks. The wind fortunately lulled towards evening, and stopped the farther progress of the fire. The danger, however is not yet over, for if a nor’-west wind springs up again, the fire may still spread a considerable distance.

A considerable amount of damage has been done by bosh fires on Bank’s Peninsula during the recent hot dry weather. A Mr Ashton of Decanter Bay lost 200 acres of grass seed, 150 acres of bush, 50 chains of fencing, and an empty house. The dead loss is estimated at £250. There were many other fires burning but no details are yet to hand. An auction room at Auckland, cleared out by fire, without the slightest reserve, yesterday morning. Cash proceeds, £1700,—-National.; £1200; Northern, £3OO ; Victoria, £2OO. A five-roomed house at Onehunga was burned the night before. Insured for £350. The inquest on the fire at Blackburn’s rope factory, Hastings, Napier, ended in a verdict that “The jury are of opinion that Blackburn’s shed was set on fire from the inside, but as to who the person or persons were who originated the fire there is no evidence to show, but the jury wish to add that the evidence also shows that the property was over-insured- and that Blackburn fraudulently misrepresented the value of his property ; the jury think that the Insurance • Companies are to blame for accepting the risk without first surveying the property.” [By Telegraph.] Cuhistciiduch, Jan, 7, Reese’s premises and stock were insured in the New Zealand office for £2750 The estimated damage is £2,000. The insurances on the Union Bank were —Union, £2000; Imperial, Royal and Northern, £1,500 each ; London, Liverpool and Globe, £I3OO. Toal £7,800. LATER. The ground floor of the Union Bank is not sn much injured as was expected. The total estimated damage from the fire is about £ISOO.