FIRES.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 22 March 1926, Page 12

FIRES.

ANOTHER BLAZE AT WATROA. FORTY BUILDINGS DESTROYED IN THREE YEARS. By Telegraph* -Tresa Aa.Eoclatlon. WAIROA, March 21. Another disastrous blaze occurred here at 1.45 yesterday morning, when a block of live shops, at the west end of tlie Marine Parade, close to the scene of the last fire, were, totally destroyed, making about forty buildings burnt within the last three years. The fire was discovered by a passerby, who gave the alarm. .In a very short time the whole of the buildings were ablaze, and nothing could he done to save them. The efforts of a bucket brigade was concentrated on saving a. small residence next door, and a gootl save was effected. Fortunately a light northerly breeze was blowing, otherwise - many more buildings must have gone. The origin of the lire is unknown. No fire brigade has yet formed, ayd no fire-fighting equipment is available in the borough. Spectators again had to stand helplessly looking on while millions of gallons of water flowed to waste in the river a few chains away.

GARAGE AND BUSES DESTROYED. By Telegraph—Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, March 21. Early this morning, two large buses belonging to the Inter-City Bus Coy., together with a garage, situated at New Brighton, were totally destroyed b,v lire. The Brigade was called to the fire, but could do nothing to save tlm garage or buses, and all efforts were directed towards saving adjoining buildings. All that is left of Hie two buses is a tangled mass of iron. BOOKSELLER'S SHOP GUTTED. ’ By Telegraph—Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, March 21. About £19,000 worth of damage was done by lire on Saturday afternoon in the bookseller’s and stationer’s shop of J,. M. Isitt Ltd., Cashel Street. At about 2 p.m.- smoke was seen issuing from the roof, and an alarm uas given. ’The fire was already burning fiercely, and an easterly wind fanned the Humes considerably. The seat of the fire Mas at the back of the shop, and probably because of this the lire had gained strength, before it u - as observed from the street.’ Soon dense volumes of smoke Mere rising from the, roof, and sheets of roof-iron, warped and twisted in the extreme heat, were tl.roun out on to the adjoining right-of-M’ay by the force of the water jets played on the lire from the leads of hose taken inside the burning building. The Brigade had a grim fight, lasting nn hour"! before the fire Mas under control.

Fire and water ruined about £IO,OOO worth of books and general stationery, and the back part ol the building, which is of two storeys, was burnt out. dbe cause of the outbreak is unknown.

The Brigade directed a considerable portion of their cflorts to saving adjoining premises from destruction, anil in this they succeeded. dhe .stock was insured for £14.000. anil the buildings were insured for £4OOO. Paper ill the cellar whs stored for Wikley's printing works. ami was insured under separate cover.

OUT.BR FA K AT FXIllBlddON. By Teiegruph—Press Association. DUNFDIX, March 21. d'he fusing of electric wires attached to an illuminated sign in the Nyw Zealand secondary industries pavilion of the Fxhibition caused a lire at 8.40 o'clock, on Suluruay evening that destroyed a large display stand ami damaged an adjoining stall, anil lor a time threatened the big building. 'I lie stand was the property ol the New Zealand Clothing Factory, ami was devoted to the display ol men’s anil boys’ suitings on several wax figures. It was one ol vhe largest anil most prominent exhibits in the pavilion, situated near the centre, and was surrounded by large plate-glass windows, with an illuminated limp <4 New Zealand, operated by electricity. Tim interior of the stand was completely destroyed, am! damage was done to the adjoining writing room and lounge, the property of the “Otago Daily I imes. The Brigade was ehrl.v on the scene, anil a gooil save ol the remainder of tile budding was eflceted. Alany hundreds of people were in the pavilion, the hour being the busiest u( the evening. The value of the sLaiul was approximately £(500. and the damage is estimated at threequarters ol t4iat amount. . . t The pavilion contains many nignly inflammable sections, and grave dangei*. was averted hv the presence of the under in tlm Fxhihil hm. and the speed al which it was able to reach the scone. Owing to the light com(.ruction of the stumf the firemen worked under linusual' ddl'ienlties, one falling through the ceiling of the writing room while dealing kith’ Hie fire Imm the top, and there was also danger of plate-glass windows breaking and allowing the spread of the (lames, hut fortunately these held and co’nhned the lire to the Ulterior.

IX KXCMNK SHEDS. Shortly after one o'clock yesterday morning, a fire broke out in the railway engine sheds at the south end of High Street.’ The fire started in the partition between the locomotive sheds and the fitters’ shop. The foreman and other members of the staff acted promptly, and getting their fire-ex-tingiiishing apparatus to work, kept tlui fire in ehec;k until the arrival of the Timarii Fire Brigade, who quickly extinguished it. Comparatively little damage was done. hut. had il not been for the prompt action of Hie men engaged in the sheds Hie result, would have been nine) more serious.