FIRE IN GLADSTONE ROAD

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2773, 31 March 1910, Page 4

FIRE IN GLADSTONE ROAD

THREE SHOPS DESTROYED. A destructive fire broke out at 8.15 p.m. last evening at the rear of Mr P. ilaHam’s drapery store, in . Gladstone Road. The fire was first seen by Mr A Lowe, who resides in a small shop next to Mr Hallam's, and rushing to the front, he gave the alarm. The hell was rung at 8.30 p.m. The Fire Brigade, under Superintendent Townley, were soon on the scene, but found that the water mams were not Hewing, probably on account of washouts caused by the liood. Luckily the pumping engine was in good order, and at 9.40 p.m. (after a delay of twenty minutes) tvi\, leads of hose were directed on the building. By this time, however, the fire had got a strong hold on the inflammable articles in the shop, and had made their way to the front of the shop, and to the upper storey of the building. The power of the water was not strong when first turned on. and the comparatively feeble jets had no effect on the masses of flame which started to shoot out of the windows cf the building. The fire gained in force, and soon the adjoining shop, a twostorey brick place, the same as Mr Hallam’s, was a mass of flames. This shop was unoccupied, having recently been vacated by Mr Chapman, grocer. The efforts of the Brigade were now directed to saving the shop and residence of Mr Fred Hall, and their efforts were greatly assisted by the rain and the high wind that drove the flames the opposite direction. Mr Hail’s place, which is a large two-storey wooden building, must have caught, however, had not the thick intervening brick wall checked the flames from spreading below. They leaped high into the air, but the wind sent them in the opposite direction. The position was so serious, however, that Mr Hall’s books were taken to a place of safety, and a large amount cf the furniture and stock was also removed from tile building.

The other side of Mr Hallam’s shop did not fare so well, and it was seen that the small wooden building, occupied by Mrs A. Lowe as a laundry and Japanese art shop, was in dire peril. Water was directed on it, but the wood, being dry, the flames got a strong hold, and this shop was nearly burned down. In the meantime the fire raged in the two middle shops, and in about two hours everything inside was demolished, and only the "alls were left standing. On the buildings, which were owned by Air Fred Hall there was an insurance. but Air Hall, being in Christchurch, the amount could not be ascertained last night. The contents of the buildings were not insured. Air Hallam will be a very heavy loser, his stock having been all destroyed. Airs Lowe managed to save a few Japanese goods, but almost everything else was destroyed. The loss, however, was not great, being estimated fcv Air Lowe at £SO.

The fire was one of the most serious experienced in Gisborne for a long time, and coming at the height of the storm presented a spectacle will long be remembered by the hundreds of people who gathered at the scene. The flames and smoke rose in lurid columns from the burning buildings, and the wind and rain, catching them, caused masses of smoke, flame, and sparks to shoot outwards and upwards to a great height, do great was the heat that the telephone lines, running in front of the buildings, were nearly all brought down, four telephone cables being burned through, the resulting lo:? to the Department is estimated at £2O.

The firemen, who worked well under very disadvantageous circumstances, had o particularly hard time, as standing facing a burning building, with beat in their faces almost too great to hear, they were nevertheless wet through .by the driving rain. Superintendent- Townley deserves great creditfor the manner in which 'he directed the efforts of his men, and but for lum the whole block might have gone. Fortunately there were no accidents of consequence, although a narrow escape was experienced by -two firemen. Branch man AY. AA’ildish and Fireman G. Ledger were standing on the verandah of the laundry, when the iron -gave way, and they were precipitated to the ground. AVildish had his knee, slightly hurt, but otherwise lie received no injury. Falling glass from the burning buildings constituted a source of danger. A number of youths, standing at the back of tile premises shortly after the fire started, were greatly alarmed bv a window exploding with the heat. The splintered glass flew out for a distance of about- 20 yards, fortunately striking none of them. The pumping plant at the Fire Station again showed its usefulness, for had it not been available a much greater amount of damage would have been done.