FIRES AT PETONE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 855, 29 June 1910, Page 5

FIRES AT PETONE.

p two outbreaks last night. BUSINESS PREMISES COMPLETELY DEMOLISHED. Two outbreaks of fire occurred nt Pelone Inst evening. In fliio case, very little damage was done, hut in the, other husine.is premises in town were completely destroyed. The first outbreak was at Millar and Go.'s premises, in the fine block of buildings occupied by the Borough Council, and a portion of which is occupied by Iho council itself. Mr. Millar, who carries on a drapery business, was lucky enough about 11 o'clock to notice a smell of burning before the fire had mado much progress, and a prompt alarm met with a ready response by tlio brir gade. The result was that very little damage was done. It is thought thi\t the fire was occasioned by a carelessly thrown lighted mntc]i catching in certain woollen goods displnyed in the way of the premises about closing time. The goods, it is thought, were carried inside without the iiro being noticed. Fortunately, though there was much smoke there was little fire. The second fire, which was noticed about midnight, was more serious. This occurred in an old wooden building divided into two shops, owned by Mr.- W. l'ringle, of the Hutt, and situated next to the Post Office. When the brigade received the alarm the bntldipg was in (lames, and the fire spread so rapidly that the place was completely gutted before it could be extinguished, One of the shops was occupied by Mr. TV. M'Kaiu, saddler, who was insured for j>3oo in !ho \llifuice Office; and the other by Messrs. Allen and Judd, plumbors, who were insiiTed for £50 in the Queensland Office The upstairs portion of the building was used by Mr. Barnes, artist, who loses a number of pictures and personal effects. He is uninsured. The insurance on the building was not ascortuinoble last night. The origin of the fire is not known. Mr. M'Kiiin was on the premises about 10 o'clock, but states that everything was all right wheal ho left. ' [The Minima* , Hand Fire Extinguisher has extinguished thousands of actual fires. It is indeed a friend in need—A. T. Bate, Nathan's Buildings, Wellington, is the agent.—Adrt.] The Reichel Automatic Fire Alarm notifies firo brigade station within 20 second? of outbreak of fire. No maintenance, 10 per cant, rebate on insurance premiums. Full particnlare, Head Office, Featherston Street—Advt,