FIRE AT TEMUKA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2719, 2 October 1894, Page 2

FIRE AT TEMUKA.

TOTAL DESTRUCTION OP THREE STORES. Au alarming fire broke oat early on Sunday morning at Tcmuka. The first to give the alarm was Mr William Brewer, who’ was awakened by his father, who was wakeful, and noticed the reflection of fire in his room. Flames were found to be issuing from the rear of premises occupied by Mr J. Taugney as a bootmaker’s shop, and Mr Brewer, junr., at once rang the fire-bell. The alarm was not a very bold one, but it awakened Mr Story’s groom who assisted in ringing and in getting the engine ready against the appearance of the brigade, who turned out promptly. By the time they and others had assembled the flames had secured a good hold, and it was evident that little could be done to save the building. Some few goods were removed from Mr J. Brown’s store adjoining, but salvage work had to be stopped shortly owing to the intense heat. Mr Brown’s show-room was the first part of bis premises to ignite, and the flames spread rapidly through his shop and to the premises on the north of Mr Tangney’s lately occupied by Mr C. T, Milner. A steady flow flow of water was kept pouring upon the rear of the building, and a careful watch that the fire did not spread to the other stores, in one of which a certain amount of gunpowder is stored. These other buildings, fortunately, are of iron and brick, and not likely to ignite readily. Pears,were entertained for the safety of the Wallingford Hotel opposite. Mr Scannell, the proprietor, adopted every precautionary measure. He called his servants, boarders, and children, and with the assistance of Mr Armitage, who had been working late at the Bank of New Zealand and was one of the first on the scene, and other volunteers caused baths filled with water to be placed in every room fronting Commerce street. In the meanwhile Messrs Surridge apd Qat^ suspended fcotq tfye parget gl( rou'nd, ami these were kept darqp by means of a garden engine lent a&4 worked by Mr E. C, Daun, while upon the lower part of the building water WH

thrown by a gang of volunteers, among whom we noticed Messrs £. Lee, White, Alderton, Cowan, Gaze, Freddy, and others. Messrs Freddy, sen., Buxton, Gapper, Collier,and others in the meantime looked after the salvage, and did good work. In spite of every effort, and with constant relays of willing hands at the engine the fire made a dean sweep of Mr Brown’s front premises, Mr Milner’s old shop, and Mr Taugney’s, and by three o’clock the place was burned out completely. Mr Brown’s safe, which was bricked in, was secured about seven in the morning. It was injured, however, to such an extent that it could not be opened until yesterday morning, when the books and papers were found with the backs charred' slightly, but otherwise uninjured. The buildings destroyed were among the first erected in Temuka, although altered from time to time. They had just been re painted and done up: Upon Mr Milner’s noose and shop there was an insurance of £l5O, upon Mr Brown’s £6OO on the building and £2OOO on the stock, all with the New Zealand Insurance Co. Mr . Tangney had an insurance of £350 upon his stock in the Liverpool, London, and Globe Insurance Co.. There was none upon his premises, which were also owned by Mr Brown. Mr Brown is hardly able to estimate his loss. He had just made the .final arrangements for stocktaking, but had not completed his lists, intending to do so yesterday. In connection with the fire we must record the satisfactory way in which the brigade worked, and their cool execution of Captain Henry’s orders. It would , certainly be well if there were another fire-bell at the north end of the town as . suggested after the last fire, for the present one is not always as audible as is desirable.

Last evening Captain Henry, of the ' Temuka Fire Brigade, received the fol- - lowing letter from Mr J. A. McOaskill: —“ Dear Sir, —Kindly accept enclosed cheque for £3 3s, as a alight recognition of the valuable service rendered by yourself and men during the late fire.” Captain Henry also received a cheque ' for £5 6s from Mr J. Brown, accompanied by hearty thanks for the valuable services the brigade rendered him at the fire.