BIG FIRE IN AUCKLAND

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2511, 12 July 1915, Page 7

BIG FIRE IN AUCKLAND

CITY BLOCK ABLAZB OAMAGE APPROXIMATELY £12,\)00. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Auckland, Julv 11. Damage approximating . £12,000 was aojic by a fire which broKc out early on Saturday evening in tho triangular block of buildings near'tho Town Hall, between Lome, Rutland, and Wollcsloy Streets.: /Hie fire originated in a three-story furniture, factory m Lome Street, occupied by Tonson, Garlick, and Company, and had a. very' good hold before the brigade arrived. Soon after the firemen begin, to pour .water into tho mass of .flame a watermain in the , vacinity burst, and" the water pressuro decreased to such an extent that tho lioso could not throw a jet much beyond the second story. It is thought probable that this allowed the fire to spread more readily via tho adjoining back premises to Plummer Bros.' three-story hat factory, in : Rutland Street. Tho firemen attacked it here again; and succeeded in confining it to' tho top story, though tho stock and plant in tho lower flats were damaged by water. : . The firemen also extinguished tho fire as it was getting a hold on the back of one of tlio Technical School buildings adjoining the hat factory. Then, however, the flames were found to havo spread in the opposite direction, to tho large tlirce-storv building next door, afurnituro factory in Lome Street, and the fire secured a' strong hold in tho second story," used as an adjunct to Plummer Bros.' hat factory. * Chemicals and oils were apparently stored here, for the fire burned with' great intensity, but the firemen, nevertheless, saved a large motor garage on the ground floor, owiied by Mr. G. W. Spragg. The last of about £10,000 worth of private cars had been-removed only a few' minutes' before the fire broke out. The third floor was unoccupied. : In tho meantime tho inmates of' the Salvation Army People's Palace and the Y.W.C.A., in Wellesley Street, tho backs of whose premises; ran into the middlo of the affected block, were making a hurried exit with goods and chattels, and a willing crowd began to carry out tho furnituro. The hack windows of those -premises were broken by tho heat, but by this time tho fire was under control, and did' not spread further. The fire was a magnificent spectacle, tho flames 'sliooting high, _ and masses of huge sparks being carried: over tho adjacent buildings and Albert Park by a fairlv: strong wind. A big crowd collected-, in'tho vicinity. Tho firo burned for about an hour and a half. Its origin was unknown. Tho insurances are :—Tonson and Garlick (offices 'unknown), .machinery £8900, buildings £3600; Plummer Bros., Rutland Street, plant, in tho Guardian office £2050, Commercial Union. £150, Liverpool, and London, and Globe £1031, plant in Lorno Street premises Liverpool and London, and Globo £1250. Plummer's premises; in Rutland Street, aro owned by the . estate of W. Crowther. and aro insured for £1000 in the South British. The promises in Lome,. Street are similarly owned, and insured .for £2500: in the South-British. Mr. Spragg had an insurance of £1000 in the South British on stock which wa3 practically undamaged.