THAMES SCHOOL OF MINES BURNT DOWN.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 474, 24 May 1890, Page 2

THAMES SCHOOL OF MINES BURNT DOWN.

On last Wednesday afternoon a fire broke out at the Thames School of Mines, and Jbefore it was got under the building was completely gutted Fortunately tiie adjoining premises, containing the experimental plant was not injured. The fire is supposed to haveoriginated in the evaporating chamber, at the south-east corner of tin* lectureroom, where some bullion was being dried by means of a gas flame. A wooden flue was attached to this chamber for the purpose of carrying away t-lie-smoke and fumes, and it is thought that, the flames from the gas-jet ignited thelining boards of the chamber, spreading to the chimney, and along the ceiling to the shingles, etc. No one was in the Building at the time the fire was discovered. The whole, of the supply of chemicals; and apparatus, besides a lot of utensils usedf or testing purposes, were destroyed,, hot the valuable collection of minerals was save-1. The- entire building was insured in two policies of £, 150 eaeh„ one policy on the- portion destroyed, the other being on the brick portion containing the assaying furnaces, which escaped injury. It is estimate 1 the lossabove insurance will amount to about LIOO, as there was no insurance upon, the contents.