Many Volunteer Workers
Servicemen and Civilians
Crowd Kept Back by Hose

The Press, Nov 19, 1947. p.8.

Although generally the public stood well back from the fire a hose had to be turned on a crowd at the corner of Cashel and Colombo Streets to drive them away. At the time the collapse into the street of Ballantyne’s building was likely.

The hose was also used to disperse crowds which had gathered on the veranda of the shop opposite Beath's corner. Collapse of the veranda would have added to the problems of keeping order, fighting the fire and waiting for emergencies.

It was a hushed crowd which waited at Lichfield Street and in Colombo Street beyond Kincaid's to the north beyond the Grand Hotel in Cashel street and to the east in Cashel Street beyond Bates' building for confirmation of the fears that tragedy had stalked with the fire. As rumours trickled through of the mounting death roll, the crowds became silently horror-stricken.

All the men at Military District and Area Headquarters were detailed to help at the fire and two engines were brought from Burnham to the city. A fire engine from Wigram was also brought in and members of the Air Force assisted the City Fire Brigade. Navel ratings helped with the fire hoses throughout the fire.

Tribute to Assistance

Men from every Army establishment near Christchurch, airmen from Wigram and sailors and Royal Marines from the two warships in Lyttelton, were foremost among the willing helpers at the fire yesterday afternoon and last evening. A great tribute to their work was paid by the superintendant of the Fire Brigade (Mr A. Morrison) and the Superintendent of Police (Mr H. Scott).

Sailors from the Bellona and the Arbutus who were on leave in Christchurch maintained the tradition of the British Navy in being the first to help in any disaster. Many tossed their jackets onto the footpaths, and rushed to the assistance of firemen handling the hoses, while others helped the police to control the crowds.