Alarms of Fire.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 781, 25 March 1905, Page 2

Alarms of Fire.

At 12.35 this morning the nightwatchman, M> J. Oliver, discovered smoke issuing from the rear ol the premises lately occupied by Messsa J Durgess, Fraser, and Co., in X Hrouglwm Street, Without stop ping to investigate lie at once gave / the alarm, and the .brigade were on A Iho spot very quicWy with the hose '/ reel. Their services were not re- / quired, however, as investigation siiowod that it was only a couple of / empty ba'gs lj(lazing, and that no damage had -been done. At the same j time it is fortunate that the incipient lire was noticed in time. The j \ igorous manner In which the fire ii-l: was rung quickly brought a ntnsi. : ei al»li- ii'Mi;! ei i.f sp-"C:uL;rs to l(so SC.'IIC. H.iid l ,\ an hour bad rl.ipi ed l.cforc the alarm was again sounded, at 1.30 a.m., the scene of tho outbreak being a wooden building in Devon Street -Kast, owned liv Mr Arrowsmith, and rented by Mr .lames Davidson as a shop and workroom for the repair of planus for the Colonial Piano Company. The fire was discovered by tile tenant of the adjoining property, who gave the alarm, the East End fire stution being only a couple of doors away. Captuin Pellringer and the brignde were on the spot with all expedition, and found the wooden structure well ablaze. There was no one sleeping on the premises, which consist of a front shop and two bnck rooms, and the firemen had to burst o[K?n tho front door to effect an entrance, Tiie flames had obtained such a hold that there upiiearcd little hope of saving the building, but the firemen were in good force, uud inonaged to confine the damage principally to tho back rooms, which were almost completely gutted. There were several second-hand pianos on the premises, and one was destroyed by the fire, and the others more or less damaged by fire and water. A quantity of material and souit tools were also destroyed. The extent of the damage and insurance were not ascertainable at the time.