SERIOUS FIRE AT WESTPORT

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2723, 31 January 1910, Page 4

SERIOUS FIRE AT WESTPORT

RAILWAY ENGINE-SHED DESTROYED.

f I* Kit I’hkss Assori WESTPORT, Jau. 30

A sensational fire occurred at M estport shortly before 5 o’clock this morning, resulting in the total destruction of the Government engine-shed, 130 ft by 35ft, in which were lodged seven engines (three W.B.’s, one F.A., two C.’s, and one F) -used in tiie carriage of coal from the mines in Westport district. The engines were hauled out. considerably damaged, the cabs, tanks, cab fittings, and boiler mountings suffering principally. All hands in the railwa- workshops were immediately summoned, and get to work at once making temporary repairs, and urgent telegrams were sent to Wellington for more men. A small engine, which was in the workshops for repairs, was immediately despatched to Stockton with empties, and to get the loan of a pressure gauge and other parts from Granny, front the Westport Coal Company. So completely was the work organised and carried out that the works foreman has been enabled to get six of the seven damaged engines temporarily repaired, painted, and under steam, and the traffic manager now announces that ordinary traffic will be resumed to-morrow with the assistance of two engines borrowed front the Westport Harbor Board. In all, there are on the Government line ten engines, so that the damage done to seven, which came out of the fire looking as if thev had gone through a terrific bombardment, appeared a very serious affair. The Government locomotive engineer, Mr. Gillon. and the workshops foreman. Mr. McCaffrey, with their staff, deserve great praise for the way in which they have risen to the occasion. The engineshed was indirect!v the property of the Harbor Board, who have as part of their endowment the net earnings of the railway. It- is insured by the Rail, way Deparment. but the amount of the insurance is not available yet.