DISASTROUS FIRE IN NEWTON

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 913, 5 March 1930, Page 1

DISASTROUS FIRE IN NEWTON

FOUR FACTORIES RAZED Early Morning Outbreak NEIGHBOURS’ NARROW ESCAPE Many Employees Made Jobless A DISASTROUS fire swept through a block of four factories in Dundonald Street, Newton, at 2 o’clock this morning, completely destroying them all. The damage, which cannot yet he estimated, runs into thousands of pounds. Many people have been thrown out of work, including 30 from one factory alone. Inmates of an apartment house adjoining one of the factories had a narrow escape. Gathering up a few of their belongings, they fled from the house as the flames ate into the walls.

The Tour factories were completely ruined. Not a thing was saved from any of them. They were: Allen and Vibert, joiners and cab-inet-makers. Tyler’s No. 3 Factory, upholsterers. The Royal Manufacturing Clothing Company, costumes and dress materials. J. W. Moore and Company, boot manufacturers. Mr. Young, a metal worker, also had rooms in the same premises with Tyler’s and the clothing company. The premises were in three different blocks situated at 11, 15 and 17 Dundonald Street. This morning there is only a charred heap of timber and bent corrugated iron scattered, over the slopes of the pit. The lire broke out just before two o'clock this morning; apparently m Allen and Vlbert’s factory. It was a blazing mass when the fire engines arrived soon afterward. All the buildings had been erected bn the slope of a deep pit, the lower storeys all being below the street level. Their situation made the work of the firemen most difficult and hindered them in getting at the seat of the flames. The pit also acted as a hind of chimney and the draught caused by the big blaze simply swept up through the buildings and fanned the flames to greater intensity. SEVEN OCCUPANTS No 9 Dundonald Street is owned by Mr. and Mrs. F. V. Dean, who let their l ooms to boarders. There were seven people in the house, including two small children. Mr. and Mrs. S. Doig and their little daughter Jean, aged three years, were sleeping in a room overlooking Allen and Vibert’s factory. This morning all that remains of the wall separating that room from the charred remains of the factory are a few burnt boards. “I was awakened at about five ■minutes to two this morning by the smell of smoke and the crackling of limber," said Mrs. Doig. “I called my husband and we both jumped out of bed and wakened Jean, who was sleeping right under the window. “My husband looked out and saw the fire. He told me to take the feaby and get out of the house as quickly as possible. I grabbed her and wrapped her in a blanket while my husband gathered a few things together. All the while my husband kept calling out, ‘Keep calm/ " Mr. and Mrs. Dean and another boarder, Mr. Brett, were also wakened and got out of the house with the tew things they could gather together. But for the efforts of the firemen the Deans’ house would have been totally destroyed and would have toppled into the gully. As it was the flames burned through the whole of one wall of the house, which has been seriously damaged by smoke and water.

buildings in the vicinity. Mr. Preston said they had a big stock of boots in hand, including 300 pairs in the finishing room, and that the firm was getting busy. This morning all that ■was left was the burned boots and leather and the damaged machinery. Tyler's had no plant in their factory. It was situated on the top floor of No. 15 Dundonald Street and was leased from Robinson and Robinson, Albert Street. The premises were simply used for upholstering. The firm estimates its losses at between £SOO and £6OO. It is expected that all Tyler’s employees who were thrown out of work will be back by 7.30 o’clock tomorrow morning. J. W. Moore and Company were insured for £1,750 with the South British Company; the contents of Tyler’s factory were insured with the 1.0. A. for £250 and there was a policy with another company for £200; Mr. Dean had an insurance policy of £BOO with British Traders on his house and £l5O on the contents held by the South British. The Royal Manufacturing Clothing Company was insured for £2,550 in the South British office, and a policy for £I,OOO was held by Allen and Vibert with the New Zealand Insurance Company. See Picture on Bask Page.

The Central Fire Station received two calls at 2.15 this morning, one by telephone and the other from a box. Two engines went immediately to the outbreak and another arrived from the Western Districts Station. Superintendent W. L. Wilson took charge of operations. Five leads of hose were soon pouring volumes of water into the blaze, which by this time was creeping across the whole block of buildings. “It was a most difficult job," said the superintendent this morning. “The fire had a good hold and the buildings were of wood in a corrugated iron shell. The draught from the deep depression at the back of the factories made conditions still worse, in a very short time the whole place was like a furnace, made worse from the forced draught. Fortunately there was no wind, otherwise the situation Would have been very ugly," remarked Mr. Wilsou. The fire was under control after a battle lasting an hour and ahalf, but the timber burst into flames periodically un.til long after daylight. There are three partners in the Royal Manufacturing Clothing ComPany, the Misses A. and E. Ellis and L. XvlacKinven, manager. Miss A. Ellis is to be married shortly and many of her wedding presents had been stored in the factory until her home was ready. These have all been completely destroyed. This morning Miss Ellis was vainly looking to see if she could recover any of her gifts. THROWN OUT OF WORK Mr. A. Preston, principal of the firm of Moore and Company, estimated the Arms loss at £3,000. He stated T hat 30 people employed by them will be thrown out of work. He stated that he left the factory last evening at 5.30 o’clock. Everything was in order and there were no of smoke coming from the other