CITY FLARE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1672, 12 February 1913, Page 6

CITY FLARE.

FEATHERSTON STREET BLOCK. CAUGHT IN TIME. THE BRIGADE'S RAPID WORK.

At a few niinules after 11 o'clock last night it fire broke out in an old wood and Corrugated two-story building on the corner ui Grey and ioathcrslou Streets, directly opposite tno new tjeneral Post 01liee. 'motile had a big hold when tho' alarm was given, aud by the linio that tlic brigade arrived tlic names had bui'bt tlirougu tho rool at luu back (north-west), corner ot the buildiug, and were Jlckiilg tiie side- brick wnll ut tho National Bailie ot New Zealand. It appeared as t'uougU the structure was doomeu, but tho briguuo got to work iu good style, and with strong leads irom Grey and I'eatucrbton Streets, got quickly to the seat of the lire, aud very qUlcKly had it under control. Tho result was that two or three of tho upstairs rooms and tho roof at tho bncki and the passage were badly burnt, and tho office of Messrs. Morh-oa and M'Lcan, barristers and solicitors, on tho ground. floor 1 , was damaged rather, badly by water. Tho cause ot the life is not known. .■'.:/■■"

Thb building, which, litis a frontage of about 80ft. to Foatherston Street by, a depth of hljout !Mft.,.Js the property of Mr, C. ii. Morieon nnd sonic of his rcla l tlvcs. Mr. Morisim left for Auckland yesterday 1 morning. The insurances could, not bo ascertained last evening. ■■:;: According to Superintendent Tait, the. scat, of tho uro was one of the, back rooms, off the upstairs passage, ' whichruns the full length of tho building. There the remains of some kinematqgrnph fllius.were discoyercd, andit is surmisad that it was a'stock of film held by Mr. o.E.'Hickcy, as agent for the Clehient, Masou Company, of Sydney, which caused the big flare at the outset of'the fire. Mr. Hickcy has other offices' In tho front of the building on tho first flobr. The offices of Mr. J. CharlcsWortk, architect, , whicli' are on the opposite ■ side of the passage to the scat of the fire; suffered through the invasion of smoke and water. Other tenants'of :offices in the building, Mr. H. E. Leighton, land' agent) Wylio Bros., land rind: estate agents) Ranisay, Wilson and Co., tea and.coffee merchants; and Barraud and.'Co,, laud agents. ■