FIRE AT TIMARU.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1397, 26 September 1885, Page 2

FIRE AT TIMARU.

A rather serious fire occurred in Timaru yesterday morning, and we take the following account of it from the local eve ing paper: — Doe fire-ball rang out its unfamiliar alarm at 3 40 this (Friday) morning. Constable Satohwoll, wbo was ou duty at that hour in the Main R :a I, observing smoke anl fire issuing from the rear of the premise* oooupied (formerly by S. Anderson and now by Messrs Lightband, Allan and Oo.,) as a bootshop, at once gave the alarm. The messenger omitted to ring the boll quite long or loud enough, and tho consequence was that it was not generally hoard ; and of the fire -brigade only Captain Amos and f our of his men turned out. These, aided by some of the people who where now Beginning to gather on the scene, ran a reel down at once and set a hydrant to work. Some dcl.iy was occasioned by the hose bursting, but in two or three minutes i hree hydrants were playing simultaneously on the building. When the alarm was first given. Mr Reillv, custodian of the Theatre, looking out of his window, saw so strong a glare that be thought tho Theatre itself whs on fire, and at once hurried down. Finding the fire was confined to the next building, however, he lost no time in fixing three lecgths of boss to the hydrants in the Theatre, and with these he, assisted by Mrs Reilly, hold the fire in check until the arrival of the Fire Brigade’s men. The flames .■proud with great rapidity. The wood fittings and fixtures of the shop being dry, were speedily consumed, and the flames made their way through the roofs of the adjoining buildings. So rapid was the progress of the fire, indeed, that the hydrants found full occupation for a considerable time. They were played alternately on the roofs, and in all tho windows and doors. The consequence was that tho shops of Mr T. Collins, and Mia Ooxhead, tobacconist, were speedily deluged with wat.r. It poured in at the roof and at the doers and damaged a great deal of furniture in the private apartments. The stock in Mr Collins’ case is saturated, and it will be probably be dayi before the zeal extent of the damage oan be

computed. The stock consists of books, papers, and fancy goods. Mr Ooxhead’s establishment has suffered very severely, and business of course has been entirely suspended at both establishments. Messrs Light band and Allan’s stock, valued at £I6OO, has been so far destroyed that the Insurance officers have not thought it worth while to take possession of it. The firm’s reprsentative can give no idea of the origin of the fire. It seemed to have begun in the rear of the premises, but so far there is absolutely no clue in the origin. Insurances are Boot Palace stock, £250 in the Union, £2OO in the North British, £SOO in the New Zealand ; Mr T. Collins’ stock, £SOO in the Union, and £SOO in the Standard ; Mrs Ooxhead’s stock, £SOO in the North British. The block of three buildings is covered by insurance to the fmount of £1,600, which is divided between the Victoria and Colonial offices. This loss is only partial. It my be remarked that this is the fire month in Timaru. Last year there were three fires in the town in September.