£20,000 FIRE

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21189, 12 August 1940, Page 6

£20,000 FIRE

BUSES AND GARAGE NO APPLIANCES AVAILABLE RAILWAY DEPARTMENT’S LOSS POST OFFICE ENDANGERED (By Telegrapn.—Press Association) INVERCARGILL, Monday Seven large motor - buses owned by the Railways Department and the large concrete garage in which they were kept at Lumsden were destroyed by fire early this morning. The garage, which was directly behind and close to the main business buildings of the town, was well ablaze when the outbreak was discovered. The total loss is estimated at £20,000. With neither water supply nor fire-fighting appliances available, the population of the town quickly gathered. but could do little but watch the blaze, which was visible for many miles. The fire was discovered about 12.30 a.m. by the Postmaster, Mr A. L. Upchurch, who was awakened by the excited barking of a small dog in the neighbourhood. He and Mr T. Small arrived at the fire simultaneously, but there was nothing they could do to save any of the contents of the building. They broke through the main doors but the building was full of choking smoke and they were forced to withdraw. Cause a Mystery It is thought the fire started near a back building, but the cause is a mystery. The last person known to have been in the garage is the driver of one of two taxis which were destroyed. He left at 8.30 p.m. on Saturday. As the fire became more intense the danger to the main business buildings became -apparent. The rear wall of the Post Office was seriously threatened when a crack developed in the back wall of the garage, which at the same time showed signs of an alarming lean outwards. Heavy props held the wall erect, however, and the Post Office escaped. Fortunately, there was little or no wind at the time. The losses included workmen’s equipment, records, stores and spare parts. The building was hired by the department from the trustees of the estate of the late John Macpherson, Lumfa den, and was insured for £6OO in tne Phoenix office. Buses From City There will be no serious dislocation of road services as a result of the fire. Two buses have been brought from Dunedin to serve the Mana-pouri-Te Anau-Hollyford area, and a hired bus is carrying out school trips today. The Department has other depots at Garston and Edendale. The Queenstown service Is not affected as this is run direct from Invercargill. This is the third time that railway buildings at Lumsden have been destroyed by fire, and the railway station has been burned down twice. There are no suspicious circumstances in the present case.