ANOTHER FIRE AT TEMUKA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2725, 16 October 1894, Page 2

ANOTHER FIRE AT TEMUKA.

The third fire since the 6th of August last occurred in Temuka at 11 o’clock last Sunday night. Up to that time there was no town in New Zealand that enjoyed greater immunity from fires than Temuka. This was frequently commented on, and the xesideuts of the town prided them* selves on it, and pointed to it as evidence of the soundness and solidity of the place. Unfortunately, however, they can no longer do so, for the fires which have occurred in such quick succession have given the place an unenviable notoriety. The fire on last Sunday night oooorred in the middle of a lot of old shops formerly known as Essery’s Buildings. The burned premises consisted of N. Money’s old furniture shop; the old long shop which has successively been occupied by Mr J. W. Miles, draper, Mr A. R. Allan, storekeeper, Mr J. Harrison, storekeeper, and which was lately converted into a skating rink; the shop formerly occupied by Mr Mogridge, and more recently still by Mr Elder; the shop which Mr Tangney took up after his own fire; and the shop between that and the Salvation Army is slightly damaged. The buildings were very old and very badly built, some of the back places being patched anyhow by Mr Essery, and they were owned by Mr A. W. Wright,of Opawa, Christchurch. The fire was discovered by Messrs Peter Anderson and George Neville who were standing in front of the Wallingford Hotel. They immediately on noticing tho smoke ran to the fire-bell at about 8 minutes to 11 o’clock, and at about 6 minutes to 11 o’clock some of the fire brigade had the engine and hose on the ground. The engine was bought out by Messrs Neville and Sheen. Not many minutes afterwards the whole of the brigade was at work under the direction of their captain, but by this time the fire had gutted the central wall between the skating rink and Elder’s shop. To those in the street the fire appeared to be in the back of the skating rink, but Constable Bourke, who was amongst the first on the scene, and went round to the back, is in a position to locate the fire as having taken place about the centre of the buildings, just about the middle of the wall which divided Elder’s and the rink. This was the very centre of the property, and as the building was on piles it was accessible from underneath. When the fire brigade were ready half Eider's and half the rink were all ia a blaze, and stepa were taken to prevent it spreading. As on the occasion of tho previous fires the night was perfectly calm, but the buildings burned like a match box. As soon as axes could be got Mr Higgins and Fireman Clinch went on the roof of Mr Tangiioy’s shop and knocked down tho parapet while Dr Hayes, Mr Dann, and Mr Gaze broke the ceiling underneath. This gave the firemen au opportunity of directing the full force of one of the hose on the south end, and here Firemen Anderson and Findlay did excellent work, and at considerable personal risk succeeded in subduing the fire. At tho other end there was a break of a few feet between Money’s and Storey’s Buildings and here Firemen O’Grady and Jenkins directed their efforts in alternately keeping tho end of Storey’*

Buildings saturated with water and resisting the fury of the flames. At the critical moment,when the fate of Storey’s Buildings hong in the balance, the other hose, haying put down the fire at the south end, was brought up, and both directing their united efforts on both sides of the north wall of Money’s old shop, which was still standing, in a short time, instead of the blazing elements, there was nothing but smoke. The fire was discovered at 10 minutes to 11 o’clock, and at 35 minutes past eleven the four shops were destroyed and the fire completely subdued. This was smart work, and the citizens of Temuka are once more under an obligation to the fire brigade. Doubtless no more will be heard of the dispute between themselves and the Town Board. It was all a storm in a teapot from the beginning, and we trust that no more will be said on the subject now. In Money’s old shop Mr George Gibbs had stored a large quantity of secondhand furniture on which he had not a penny insurance. He succeeded in saving some of .it, but he sustained a serious loss, which ~he estimated at £SO. Mr Elliott, photographer, who occupied a part of the shop and looked after it for Mr Gibbs, lost everytning he had with the exception of his camera. There was no insurance on his goods, amongst which were some ingenious mechanical contrivances of his own invention as well as a valuable electric battery. The rink and the shop lately occupied by Mr Elder were empty. Mr Tangney, who went into the next shop immediately after the late fire, had just got in some little stock, on which there was no insurance. Mr George Velvin occupied the next shop as a barber’s shop, and was not insured. The next was the Salvation Army barracks, which was untouched. All the seats and the musical instruments of the band were removed. Next was Mr Sim’s jeweller’s shop. This was broken into, and all the goods removed to the opposite side of the street, and afterwards brought up to Mr Bowman’s house. Several things, as usual, were broken and damaged. The goods wer insured in the Alliance for £250. Next was Mr James’s fruiterer’s shop. His stock, and furniture (including a fine organ),which were not insured,were removed and considerably damaged. Next was Messrs Hardy Brothers’ tinsmith’s shop. Their goods, which were not insured, were removed. The goods of Mr Hay, shoemaker, were also removed; not insured. The goods of all these have been considerably knocked about and damaged, •nd the loss in all cases is serious. Mr Elliott lost a lot of nicknacks and Yankee tools, which he would not have sold for £SO. The goods in Mr Storey’s tailor’s shop were removed, but he is insured for £270. They were injured, but doubtless the insurance company will reimburse Mr Storey. Mr D. Taylor’s shop, on the other side of the street, stood in danger at one time. Blankets were hung oyer the parapet, and a number of willing hands kept the front wet by means of buckets of water. His insurance was £BSO. The origin of the fire is unknown, as no one lived on the premises, and what adds to the mystery is that it took place at such an early hour of the night, if burned by design, it was a daring piece of business. It was a fine, bright, moonlight night, and people were still about the street. Some people who passed up and down the street at a quarter to 11 o’clock noticed nothing of it. Mr Thornhill Cooper, on behalf of the insurance companies, arrived yesterday, but he was unable to ascertain the ampunt of the insurance on Mr Wright’s buildings. Mr Wright lives in Christchurch, and the buildings are insured in some office in (hat city. It is said they were insured for £9OO, but no one knows definitely. With the exception of Mr Wright’s policy the Insurance Companies will not lose a great deal Mr Sim’s loss will be the greatest, and there will be a little to go to Messrs Storey and Taylor, but nothing to speak of