FIRE AT KELBURNE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1102, 15 April 1911, Page 7

FIRE AT KELBURNE.

BLAZE AT THE TEA KIOSK. A NARROW ESCAPE. Those dining at the- Kclbiirne Tramway Company's handsome iiiul commodious ton-kiosk at the Kclburne tcrniiims of tlic« tramline, at a little after G o'clock last evening, were startled by the cry nf "Fire! Fire!" from the back rooms. In a few minutes all was excitement—girls screaming, patrons rushing out, telephone ringing, and crockery smashing. The cause of the hub-buij was an outbreak of fire in what is called the "donkey room," at the rear of the kitchen, where :i waterheater supplies hot-water in large quantities for the wash-up. The chimney leading from the furnace to the exterior, and following tin; wall up on the inside for a distance, had become over-heated (though protected with a little packing), and had ignited the lining. The flames leapt up between tbo lining and weather-boards, and lired the spare bedroom directly overhead. Aii attempt was made to communicate with the brigade by telephone by one of the girls, but, failing to get into communication, the electric alarm on kelbiirno Parade was broken. By the time the brigade reached the spot the bedroom in question was well ablaze, and it looked as if the kiosk was doomed. Thanks, however, to a good pressuro of water, and workmanlike action on the part of the brigadcsnien, under Superintendent O'Brien, the flames were confined to the- south-west corner of tlic building, and comparatively little damage was done, other than the gutting of the bedroom. Other, rooms upstairs and below were damaged by smoke and water, and the big tea-room was awash The lire was witnessed by a large crowd of spectators. Tlio Kclbu.Mo tea kiosk, plant, and furniture is at present -Jiuler a three years' iease to -Mr. Maxwell SpensBlack, who is assisted in the management, by his wife and daughters. Their loss consists of a quantity of clothing, pictures, etc.. which are not covered by insurance. The kiosk was erected by the Kelburnc and Karori Tramway Company, Ltd., in 1904. It is a picturesque wooden building, designed on bungalow lines, and contains nine rooms. It is a popular afternoon tea and luncheon resort, and is visited a great deal by strangers for the commanding view it has of the city and harbour.

The building is insured in the Phoenix Office for £3000 and the contents were covered by a policy in the same office for £430.