A BIG BLAZE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1749, 14 May 1913, Page 8

A BIG BLAZE.

FIRE AT KIMBOLTON, FIVE BUILDINGS DESTROYED, (By Telegraph.—Bucolal Corresnondcnt.) Feilding, ■ May 13. A firo in tho small hours of this morning swept away Poolo's Hall, tho Post Office, and tho intermediate buildings, and but for tho fact that tlio wind was ' blowing* from' the north-west, .it is probable tho other., side of the street, including tho hotel anil tho stables, would have gone. . , The fire started 111 a room in Poolos ' Halli which is now used as a motor garage by Mr. A. P. Ilailey. Thero are no facilities at ICimbolton for fighting 'fires, and tho flames very quickly had complete control of tho garage. Two Vnotor-cars' in tho building were, destroyed witlr tho rest of the- stock and plant. A strong wind was blowing the north-west;'aifdi it was at once' sc'eu thai: tho adjoining buildings wero doomed. A small empty shop next to tho garage was swept away by tho flames. Mr. K. xl. Patterson's saddler's shop and dwelling soon submitted 'to tho all-devouring fire, and a dwelling occupied, by Mr. Gatchell led tho fire to'the fine' two-story Post Oflico. Mr. Chittendon, "Into of tho Feilding postal staff,', had just taken charge of tho Kimbolton office, and. had moved his furniture into the dwelling part of tho building a few days ago. A foij articles of furnituro wore removed from tlio' build-' in?, but tho heavier pieces, including the piano, wero destroyed. The building', was a' new one, having been completed at the end of 1908, after a long drawn-out agitation ( on tho part of,tho resident. 1 / for a suitable and convenient Post Office. By'hard work, a bucket brigade managed to savo Mr. Bauer's residence, on ' the. eastern sido 'of tlio Post Office. A' peculiar circumstarico in connection with tlio destruction of tho Post Offico is that , only a month or so ago the Department purchased tho, adjoining dwelling occupied by Mr. Gatchell, for the pur- < poso of pulling it down and removing it to jirevent any' possible fire from the row of buildings there Reaching, the Bosli Office. The Department's procrastination, lias' cost them dear. Following wero the insurances:— ! Poolo's Hall, .£3OO in the New Zealand office; A. P. Hailey, .£201) 011 ono motor, ■ .£SO on tho stock,' and .£SO on theplant, till, in tho New Zealand office; ,£IOO on tho second motor-car in another office. 1 It. 11. Patterson, a total of £S3i in the New Zealand office, and .£75 in tho South British. JJr. Chittendon, ;El5O oil tho furnituro in tho :Stato offico. There was also a 'small insurance on tho empty shop next tho hall. Advicea received by the Chief i Postmaster state that all records and mail matter in tho KiiAbolton Post Office wero saved, and the offico Tcopencd in temporary premises,.. and telephone communica-. 'iiofl restored.