FIRES.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 February 1919, Page 5

FIRES.

A WOOL SHED DESTROYED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Dunedin, Last Night. A wool shed and offices at Port Chalmers, belonging to John Mill and Co., was destroyed by fire to-day. The shed contained a considerable quantity of flax, tow and canned meat ready for export, besides dumping plant, boilers and engines. There was only a small quantity of wool in the store, owing to several thousand bales having been shipped by the Verdun during the past few days. The fire started during the lunch hour, commencing behind the offices. The water supply from the main could not cope with the blaze, and the hose from a tug was quickly requisitioned, but without avail. Mr. Mill left for the north this morning. Shortly before 1 p.m. a telephone message arrived by the Dunedin Fire Brigade, asking for assistance, but owing to the distance, and acting under instructions from the Fire Board, the request was refused.

About 200 bales of wool owned by the Imperial Government, and stored by Donald Reid and Wright and Stephenson, were destroyed. The insurance on the contents was distributed amongst various offices, and the exact amounts »re not available. The building was insured for £I2OO in the Commercial Union Office, and for £3OO in the Standard Office.