FIRE IN GLADSTONE ROAD

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2433, 23 February 1909, Page 4

FIRE IN GLADSTONE ROAD

TEN-ROOMED HOUSE ABLAZE,

About thirteen minutes ]W,t f OVIr o’clock yesterday afternoon an alarm of fire was sounded from the belfry and it was at once seen that the* outbreak was in the ten-roomed ho, lso lacing Gladstone Road, and adjoinin',)Mr. E. D. Smith’s chemist’s .shop The flames spread with great rapidity, and in a very short space of time completely enveloped the building The Fire Brigade was smartly the scene, and quickly had four leads? of hose sending a great volume,Uf '' water into the burning buiWjs// Dense clouds of thick black smoke were rising from the house, and made the work of the firemen extremely difficult, and several of them were oh different occasions, almost overcome. Notwithstanding the splendid efforts of the Brigade, it was soon, apparent that the building was doomed, and attention was directed to the work of saving the adjoining buildings on the western side, which were more particularly threatened on account of the easterly breeze blowing. Fortunately the burning house was practically surrounded by a thick fringe of willow trees, and this circumstance was largely responsible for the fact that the adjoining buildings were saved, but oniy the walls of the building in which the lire originated were left standing. The house, as has been stated, was a ten-roomed one, over thirty years old, and built of white pine " and kauri, and some time ago was the residence of Dr. Cole. Since the doctor’s new house in Grey Street was ' built the house was run in conjunction with Messrs. Ferguson’s Gladstone Boarding House, and was used as a sleeping-place for the boarders. It contained accommodation for 32 boarders, and for the last week or so 17 men have been occupying the building at nights. Their personal belongings were all lost in the fire, and, in addition, there were some 30 other bed? with the necessary bedding stacked in the building" ready for use at emergency times, andp* with -the exception of one or two' which were got out in time, these also were lest. In an outhouse at the back of the building there were a number of portmanteaux, tin trunks, and swags belonging to a number of men working in the country, but thanks to the efforts of a willing band of helpers these were conveyed to a place of safety before the fire reached them.

The Brigade is deserving of a great deal of credit for the manner in which they coped with what at one period threatened to be a big blaze. Several of the firemen sustained minor injuries, and Fireman Lapidge was unfortunate in receiving a nasty cut under the eye from the nozzle of a hose which swung round unexpectedly. The bouse, was owned by Mr. John Town ley. and was insured in the Alliance Office for £4OO. The furniture and contents were insured in the Guardian Office for Lite), but Mr. Ferguson states; that the sum will by no means cover the amount of his loss.