A Lunatic Asylum Burnt.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 3032, 18 October 1888, Page 2

A Lunatic Asylum Burnt.

The following further particulars' aroto Land re (lie disastrous fire at Ohristohurch, intelligence of winch' was published in ouf'. telegraphic' columns' yesterday :-A fire broko' out shortly before 11. a.ii». iu tlia women's ward in the western wing'; this is in .the older portion of the building, which to a.large extent has been added to from time to time. When the last news reaobed town it was very doubtful whether the beautiful new recreation hall opened quito lately would be saved. : r : '-f\ ;;:-;, The patients were all got out of the way directly the alaruv was given, and no pauio has occurred .among them. Much,might liaye.bean doho- : to save the place 1 had the people at! the Asylum sent in ful 1 informdtioii at once by : telephone, when they, found they were unable to copewithf; .the fire themselves. Two fire brigade engines-were sent out, but no request was made for the muchrnoro powerful railway engine, which did-not get to work on the scene of action till past. 12 o'clock. The ■.other two 1 engines were.got out witliiahalfanhour, and forthwith taken to'the River fleathcote, whiolifortunatoly\. runs close behind tho Asylum, bo that, thore waspfenty of water.available.:. The central hall was saved. .Tho western wing, ,the women's depart--, ment, was. gutted, most of the damage being in tho. uppor- story, where, tho. firo began. It■ seems that at 8.80 ■a.m. the • ohimney took fire and was supposed to have been put out. At,10.45 a,m. fire broke out in the attio above 0 ward, through whioli' tho ohimnoy passed. The attendants'were unablo' to subdue it, and it iB stated that the fire prevention appliances'were not all in good order. ... There are no insurances. Twelve ■ months ago an insurance company submitted a price to tho.Government," but it was thought too; high* A great deal of furniture, &0,, was. saved, but a considerable portion was' lost. '■"''-.

B Arrangements Lave been made for . lodging the inmates, all of whom aro 6 safo in the old immigr'atioa barracks jat Addington, ■ - ' . The'-fire was practically extinguished ; by three o'clock. The city fire engine t Deluge was tlio first to play on the , firo from* an adjoining creek, about ; half an hour after tho alarm. Half \ an hour later still the railway engine, 1 which bad beon telephoned for, got ~ to work from an underground tank t in front of the building. Ten minutes , after, the other city ongine,got into ' play. A strong N.E, wind rendered , the work of the firomen difficult, but they aoted with the greatest gallantry, as did the men from the Addington workshops. - Tho fire began in' an attic over k. Ward. When tho roof foil a hold, was observed In the chimney passing' through it, and it is supposed that sparks found their'waylthrougli this chimney, which caught fire about 8.80 a,m,, but it was supposed to have been extinguished. Tho arrangements in thfl Asylum, in oaso of an outbreak of fire, app'ear to Lave been defective, ' There is a baud fire engino at the Asylum, but it is not powerful enough j.no nsowaa made of it. The fire-boxes were not; of much greater service. One was: discovered to be full 1 of blackings and the other empty' but looked) BJid : keyless. The whole of the uppeir portion of tho female department is; burnt out; tlie roofing, doors, &c, are coffsumed while the. upporflooris.in most-places, des- : troyod. Tli6 damage to. the. lower.' flat.is mostly by water,' 'The - por«tions burnt or otherwise damaged;. are known as Wards A.B.C.Di,. The administrative block (Dey's; contact), which.was oponed kelyv has escaped with the exception ola* new dormitory on tho feanle sides. The female attendants dining room is gutted, The beautiful ball, which was only reoently opened has escaped 1 with a soaking, and tho' organ there, in has escaped. uninjured, AH the fiirnituro in the Lower part of tho building was got but, but everything, in tho upptir portion of the building; was destroyed, and the female attendants are reportedfehawlosfc most • ;bftheir clothing and belongings. A few thing from tho upper poitionvof Ward A. wero however is to, the credit of the,, meu: thai tbflyv^ere. tlie rfirs'fe to:• arrive from towti,_and tui-tfed: qas whioh endangered tlie : >v }A }M WiMW&

Clears out tats,'nuee, roaeks,'flies, ants, bijß.bygs, beetles, inneets, skunks, jaolc-rabbiti. sparrows, At chemists and druggists,«