BIG FIRE AT WESTPORT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 176, 21 April 1919, Page 4

BIG FIRE AT WESTPORT

SERIOUS DAMAGE. • By Telegraph—Press Association. Wcstport, ( April 19. There was a big blaze in Westport early this morning, when Penny s Palace Restaurant and Hallcnstein's clothing factory wore completely, burnt down. Nettle's premises, adjoining, were badly damaged and tho stock ruined; those ot Rose, nhotograplier, seriously damaged. Tho brick wall of Lawsons shoe shop saved the fire spreading up town. Lawson's stock and window were somewhat (limited. The insurances are: Lawson, .£2ooif on premises and .£3500 on stock; Nottle, J8350 on stock. The other insurances are not yet available. Mr. Penny had a narrow escape trom deatli. DWELLING DESTROYED AT CARTERTON.

(From Our Special Correspondent.) Carterton, April 20. A nine-roomed dwelling at the northern end of Carterton, occupied by' Mr. I'. Wi*e, was gutted by fire on Saturday night, shortly after 10 o'clock. When the alarm was given the ore had a lair hold of the eastern side of tho building, and it spread quickly under the root. Kmtuuatcly the night was uilin. I no. Fire Bri"ado promptly answered the call, and pufin splendid work. A large portion of tho furniture was salvaged by ♦il'ing workers, but considerable damage wos dono 'by smoke and water There was no one in the house when tiio fire occurred, and its origin is a comnlcte invsterv. The building was owned by Mr 'W. Howard Booth, and was only a' few weeks back leased to Mr. Wise, who is at present on holiday in the South Island, having left on tho morninrr before the fire. When Mrs., Wise and some friends left the house m the evenin" everything was apparently safe. The bnildiiiß was insured for .£6OO in the Phoenix Office, and the furniture is stated to bo covered by a policy for .£2OO. Protect vonrself by installing the "Minimax"'Piro Extinguisher. S. George i Nathan and Co.. Wellington, sole distributing agents for N.Z.-Vdvt.

Tho disembarkation of returning troops is now being carried out twico as expeditiously as heretofore 'by the use of two gangways. The now method of au additional "angtvuy was fuvit n?ecl for the lomlin" of men who returned by tho Willociira. The officer commanding trcop s exmi"-lv asked fur L'hn tlisfinburkntion ■-t his draft to be carried out with two gangways. It was again put into prne- %(. ■■► tho Kailcoula on .Saturday, mid |,-,s highly commended on all sides. In view of two suwsslul trials, the Defence .Embarkation Officers have decided to conUnite the use of two gangways: If only one gangway had been in use on he Kaikoura on Saturday the men for the northern districts would, it is stated, have been unablo to catch rte morning trains a fact, that would hnvo meant billeting tho men at the expense of the i Government, and inconveniencing, tho mon and their next-of-kin who were anxious to get home quickly.