FIRE AT SUNNYSIDE ASYLUM.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1804, 18 October 1888, Page 3

FIRE AT SUNNYSIDE ASYLUM.

: Christohoboh, October 16. A most disastrous fire has occurred at Sunnyside Lunatic Asylum. The conflagration is Atill (1 p.m.) raginer fiercely, 1 and it is impossible to say what ex'ent of damage will ultimately have recorded, but the whole of the western wins; has already been destroyed, which involves a loss cf thousands of pounds worth of public property. The place'is nbout three miles out of Christchurch, on the Lincoln road, and information as to the progress of the fire, therefore, onlyreaches town at intervals. The fire broke out shortly, before 11 a.m. iii the women's ward of the western wing. This is. situl ated in the older portion of the buildingj ' which is ofivery large extent, and has been added to from time to time; When the list news;came 'in it was very doubtful b hether the 'beautiful new recreation hall, opened quite lately, would be saved, The' patients" were all got out of, the way directly the ; alarm was given,"arid no, panic 'HVa occurred nmong them.', Much niight,have been done to save the, place had. the people at the Asylum sent in full information \ at once by telephone, ; when' they found they vere unable to cope with the fire themselves. The two /ire engines were sent out, but no ifequest was made for the much m9re powerful railway engine, which did not get to work on the fire till past 12 o'clock. The other two engines got out within half nn hour, and were forthwith taken to the river Heathcote, which fortunately runs close behind the Asylum, so that there was plenty of water availab'e. ~ ~...'"" Later.

The, fire at the Asylum wasgot-under by\ l.lSjP.m. .The central hall; was saved, but the jwegterh- wiug and women's department were gutter), most of -the, damage being in the upper storey where (he fire began.,;' It seems that at qbimney jook fire, and it win supposed to have been 'put out. At 10.45, howe\wr-/tha fire broke out in the attic above the G' Ward,' through which the chimney passed. The attendants were unable to subdue it, aad it is staled t T h ! e fire prevention 'appliances were not all ; ib good order. There are uo insurances. months ago the' Irisarahoir"Contpanies submitted'a "price to, Gbveriimerit. for insuring the Asylum, but it was thought too high. A great deal of furniture, • etc., was saved out of the burned building, but a considerable portion was lost. Arrangements have bees made for lodging the inmates, all of whom are Bafe, in the old Immigration Barracks at Addingtoii.