FIRE AT AUCKLAND

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 141, 10 March 1919, Page 6

FIRE AT AUCKLAND

FLOUR MILL COMPLETELY GUTTED HEAVY LOSSES By Telegraphs-Press Association. Auckland, March 8. A fire broke out at 0110 o'clock this morning in thb premises of Uycroft, Ltd., (lourmillers, Shorthuul Street, in Uio rear portion of the building which escaped the conflagration of February (>, and which caused damage estimated at .CIS,OOO. The fire this morning completely gutted the biscuit factory, and completed the ruin of the entire block from Shortland Street to Chancery Street. The machinery and stock are totally destroyed. The night staff were at work in the basement, when shortly before one o'clock smoke was noticed. The fire had a firm grip upon both upper floors. The brigade was quickly on the spot. By a quarter past one the fire had enveloped both upper stories at the. back, and the front portion of the building which had largely been gutted by the previous outbreak. The remainder was practically unaffected. Before half-past one the iiames had broken through the roof, and were burning fitfully. There was _ a largo volume of smoke and steam rolling up. with sparks freely intermingled. Tlio roof fell in about 1.15 a.m., a large portion resting on the second floor, which was the only floor remaining firm. About a. quarter of an hour later tho second floor collapsed. The firemen by 2 a.m. were able to quell the. flames. After an inspection the superintendent of the brigade stated that the, fire must have started near the middle of tho building and spread out on every side. All the centre of the premises was gutted. Very large quantities of flour and biscuits were in store. Everything was destroyed. The insurances on the premises were .£48,000 in the New Zealand Insurance Company, which includes, loss on both conflagrations. There was practically a total loss on this morning's fire, not yet estimated in figures.

SCHEME FOR. REBUILDING. Dunedin, March 8. In connection with Bycroft's fire, Fletcher Bros., \of Dunedin, had been engaged demolishinj; the front portion of the building previously destroyed by fire preparatory to erecting a five-story reinforced concrete flourmill, and had also received instructions from the directors to prepare plans for roiuodelling the biscuit factory, which has now been destroyed. '"Mr. ,fames Fletcher has been requested to proceed to Auckland to discuss with the directors a scheme for rebuilding the whole of the premises.