FIRES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 56, 25 February 1908, Page 2

FIRES.

01/TBREAK IN DUNEDLX. Per Press Association. Dtinedin. Last Might. A serious outbreak of fire occurred in Thomson and Co.'s, aerated water manufacturers', in Crawford-street this aftev. noon. The lire was discovered almost in

the middle of the top story, where are stored a large quantity of corks, disused machinery, packing, and other contents. The (lames had a strong hold when discovered, ami spread with almost incredible rapidity over the inflammable material at hand, ami when the brigade arrived a few minutes Utter the whole floor was abla/.e. The building stands "P by itself from amongst one-story erections, and there is only one steep narrow stairway giving access .to the upper portions. It was too high to send a stream of water to the seat of the lire from the street, though this was essayed, and -„ great was the hold the Humes had secured that the firemen were beaten back. A stair ladder was hastily laid up in front of the building, and aii intrepid fire-fighter (Conway) climbed, "P this with the hose, and iu the teeth, o the (lames,directed u stream of water., through the window. This was only/ partly ell'ective, and the ladder had to be shifted to an adjoining window. L> to this Firemen Williams and Conway, climbed, dragging a heavy hose, audi succeeded in getting a strong ilow of, »atc,v into the middle of the roaring turiiatv within.

it is estimated that the dauwe exceeds C2OUO. The insurants ilie distributed in Hie Alius, Standard, .Liverpool, London, and lilobc, Xew Zealand South Uvitisli, Victoria, National, Commercial I'nioii, Alliaiito, iioyal, Australian, Alliance, ilU( [ fhoenix. The total insurance on the building k £3250, on the stock £3BOO, on the machinery! £750, on the fittings, etc., £2OO. The, luctory adjoining is insured for UOOO- - stock for £4OO, allll machinery, £IOOO. The lire is supposed to have been caused by a defective chimney.

A NARROW ESCAPE. Auckland, Last Night. A four-roomed house, owned 1> V F. 11. Eyre and occupied by Mr. Thomas Kodda, was totally destroyed by lir, „t Whitianga, at about 10 o'clock last night. The occupants, who were all m bed, had a narrow escape. The fire is said to have originated in a defective oil heater, which had been left alight in the kitchen for the purpose of keeping hot some food for a sick child- Mrs. Rodda, who was severely Jiurnt in trying to save some of the effects, had to be taken to the hospital this morning for medical treatment.

A DREDGE BURNED. Dunedin, Last Night. Advice was received l>v the secretary of the Nelson Creek Dredging Company to-day that the company's old dredge, •situated on the West Coast, had been

destroyed by lire. No particulars are available, except that the. dredge was insured.