DUNEDIN.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3190, 10 May 1879, Page 2

DUNEDIN.

Friday.

A most destructive' fire occurred in Cumberland street tr-days ; Just at; noon as the men were knocking off work in the Soap and Candle Factory of Allan and John McLeod, a small pipe; containing melted tallow burst, and the tallow came in contact with a plate of hot iron, and no sooner'had it squirted over it thanr th« place was in flames. The men escaped with difficulty. It, got such hold immediately that in a few minutes the whole of the extensive premises were in flames. A tremendous black smoke arose, and the blaze of the tallow, resin, steaririei and othercombustibleswasindescribable. Six or seven jets of water were got on speedily and every effort was made to confine.the fire, but it spread to DavidspA's foundry, destroying part of their blacksmith's shop, 1 and setting fire; tp a fine threerstorey brick building in ; which they,have;their fitter's shop and offices. : ■ r By the;fire. McLeod Bros., who are most hard-working and striving, men, are completely ruined. They are covered by insurance to the ektent of £4,000, but the destruction amounts at least' to £10,000. Very great sympathy is felt for then?. They had only last'night completed the erection 6f the plant' which one of tjhe brothers bad brought with him from Paris and Philadelphia for the manufacture of stearine candles, and was to have commenced' work oh' Monday. Mr Davidson's'loss on boilers arid fittings, A.c, covered by insurance amounts to £3,500 at the very outside. , Though the brick building took fire * at the upper storey, yet had it not intervened, between the blazing tallow and the foundry pattern shop, which is of wood, the pattern shop would assuredly have gone.