The City Fire Brigade received a call by telephone from St. Clair at 3.35 a.m. but the glare of the fire was then plainly visible from the station.
When the brigade arrived at the Pavilion - after a seven minutes' run - the roof had fallen in, and there was absolutely no chance of doing anything.
Furthermore, the water pressure was not too strong at the start.
Recognising that the pavilion itself was beyond saving, the brigade turned its attention to warding off the attack of the fire on the adjoining houses.
Although the slight wind blowing forced the flames towards Mr A. James's large new brick house, on the St. Kilda side, by directing a strong stream of water between the two buildings, the brigade saved Mr James's house from practically the slightest damage, one window only being cracked.
The wooden wicker fence on top of the dividing brick wall was not even scorched. Mrs Motion's residence on the baths' side, however, suffered rather severely from the heat and flames, the side of the wooden wall being very badly scorched, and a room at the back being set on fire.
The brigade, however, quickly dealt with this outbreak.
The Dennis engine went out in charge of Deputy Superintendent Salmon, and Superintendent Napier followed a few minutes later in the small Talbot car.
The St. Kilda Brigade came on the scene a little after the arrival of the City Brigade, and its members gave willing assistance to the city men.
The corporation's insurance, divided amongst Dunedin offices in the proportion of the corporation's aggregate insurances, totalled 3320 on building and fixtures.
Mr E. Searl, who had a five years' lease of the building, and used it as tea rooms, held an insurance of 350 on his stock, in the New Zealand Insurance office.
The St. Clair May Day Carnival had opened in the pavilion on Friday, and it closed on Monday night, when the last of the committee left the building about 12 o'clock.
The member of our staff who yesterday made inquiries as to the details of the outbreak, could not but be impressed by one remarkable feature. This was that, notwithstanding the fact that the pavilion belonged to the corporation - that is the people of Dunedin - everyone with whom the fire was discussed expressed a grim satisfaction that the place had been burnt down.
''Fortunately,'' remarked one well-known city gentleman, ''it was well insured.''
Another gentleman summed his opinion thus: ''Well, I don't know what it was like as a pavilion, but I know it made a jolly good fire!''
• A new company has recently been formed which has taken over the Fruitlands Estate at Bald Hill Flat, and arrangements have been entered into with Messrs Ivory, the Rangiora Nursery firm, to prepare and plant in apple trees 200 acres of the area.
The new syndicate is comprised almost exclusively of leading Dunedin business men, and their intention is to bring the property up to the bearing stage before offering it to the public.
The Dunstan Times says that work has already been commenced and several teams will be at work this week breaking up the ground.
A further area of some 200 acres is to be put down in wheat, and next season a similar area will also be planted in fruit trees. - ODT, 5.5.1915.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
