The fire, which started about 12.45pm, is supposed to have originated among a quantity of flax hemp stored in the building. At the time of the outbreak one clerk was in the office, and three other men were having their lunch in the building. On the first alarm the clerk rushed out of the office to ring up the brigade, but on his endeavouring to return to the room to close the safe he was unable to do so on account of the dense volume of smoke which filled the building.
After a fruitless endeavour to shut the safe the four occupants had to rush from the offices to save themselves, leaving all the books and records to the mercy of the flames. The Fire Brigade arrived on the scene in less than five minutes after the receipt of the alarm, but by this time dense smoke was pouring from the windows, doors, etc. As far as could be gathered about 200 bales of wool, along with about 68,000 bales of hemp, were destroyed, also a number of cases of tinned meats, which were in the store. The wool had been placed in the stores by Messrs Donald Reid and Co. and Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co, for shipment to the owners - the Imperial Authorities - by the Verdun.
St John's diamond jubilee
The diamond jubilee of St John's Church, Waikouaiti, is to be celebrated to-day, and in connection therewith a short history of Waikouaiti and the chronicles of St John's Church have been compiled by the vicar, the Rev E. J. Neale. The book, which is exceptionally well got up, is beautifully illustrated and contains a foreword by the Primate. It is not yet the good fortune of many churches in the dominion to claim recognition to 60 years' activities, but St John's can certainly claim this distinction.
Middlemarch welcomes soldiers
Great enthusiasm marked the reception extended to Second Lieutenant G. Fisher, Corporal A. Stewart, M.M., H. Jones, C. Fisher, W. Waddell, and G. Watson (a visiting soldier) by the Middlemarch residents on Friday night last. The hall was packed, and a very bright and entertaining programme arranged by Mrs Thomson opened the proceedings. The President (Mr A. M'Kinnon), on behalf of the residents, warmly welcomed home the boys. On behalf of the residents of Strath-Taieri, and as a token of their great appreciation, Mrs A. M'Kinnon then presented the soldiers with handsome gold medals. Second Lieutenant Fisher, on behalf of his mates, thanked the residents for the great welcome. The guests and their friends then sat down to a sumptuous supper, which was followed by a dance.
Pet opossum
A rather unusual application came before the Southland Acclimatisation Society at its monthly meeting, when a letter was received from a Winton resident, who asked permission to keep an opossum (which he had caught in a trap) as a pet. A member said he thought that the society had no jurisdiction in the matter. The secretary was instructed to reply that the society had no objection. - ODT, 26.2.1919.
