A SHOCKING FIRE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 94, 23 April 1915, Page 5

A SHOCKING FIRE.

353 HORSES BURNED TO DEATH IN AUCKLAND. DAMACE ESTIMATED AT £26,SOD. .Feb Peers Association. Aur.'k'.i'i-L Api V. -2. About nine o'clock to-night a very large stable at the loot of St G*"-o;ge's Bay Head, owned by ,'. .!. Traig, Ltd.. one of the principal cirrying ii.ms hi Auckland, suddenly bmst into th.mes. The lofts were full of sua-v 'i;«! hay, and this is believed »o acount for the fact that the flames proad so apd.lv that it was found impose! le to save the horses.

There was no less than three hi ndred and fifty magnificent a\imals. of the average value of £4O each, in the stable, and of these only three were saved. In addition, many lorries and drays and a large quantity of equip-

ment were destroyed. The origin of the fire is entirely unknown, and its : amazingly rapid spread is a source of much speculation. It was a new building—the builders in fact, had not given it the final touches yet, and it covered 290 feet bv 120 feet.

Two men were in the stable .Then the outbreak was discovered, yet so quickly did the flames spread over the whole building that they could do little more than save themselves and leave the throe hundred and fifty horses to their fate.

| Spectators say that for about five minutes only the screeches of the ■ n-fortn-iate animals could be heard. and then the roof fell, and they were silent. The loss is estimated as follows: Horses £12,000; buildings £7000; fodder, carts, and harness, £0500; electric equipment, £1000; total £28,500. TOTAL LOSSES AMOUNT TO £29,000. Auckland, April 23. Three hundred and fifty horses were lost in the fire at Craig's stables. The firm estimates the losses as follows:—Building £7OOO, horses £14,000, fodder and harness £6500. mechanical plant £1500; total £29,000. This does not include a number of vans and lorries which are seriously damaged. The insurances amounted to £SOOO on the'building and £-1100 on the feed, harness, etc. all in the Royal Insurance Co. The horses were partly insured in New Zealand office, but the amount has not been estimated.