THE STRATFORD FIRE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 190, 7 May 1919, Page 8

THE STRATFORD FIRE

GREAT DESTRUCTION OF SHOP PROPERTY ORIGIN A MYSTERY Bf TeteuraDli—Press Association. Stratford, May 6. The fire which broke out shortly after midnight on tho e;ist side of Broadway, spread quickly, and destroyed a large portion of tho block before the conflagration was arrested. The buildings aro on the railway leasehold, and are all of wood.

The fire originated in S'nealiaii's tobacconist, shop, the building also being occupied by Sladden and Palmer, engineers, and Ford, bootmaker. Tlie next building, occupied by Finnerty, estate agent, was destroyed, and also a block of buildings known as York Chambers, occupied by It. Richardson (grocer), Fargie (estate agent), Tyrer (solicitor), M'Cluggngo (estate agent), Cook (tailor), J. D. Ilealy (architect), On Ivee (greengrocer), and W. H. Harris (fishmonger), and Barker (refreshment rooms). All were practically destroyed. The Central 'ICo-operative Grocery Stores were damaged severely, also Foster's bootshop. A fortunate chango of wind -and the splendid work of the Fire Brigade undoubtedly saved the fire from taking the whole of' the street to the Newton ICing corner, and possibly beyond, the fire being arrested at tho Central Cooperative Store on ouo side and Foster's on the other. ■ So far tho origin of the fire is a mystery. The lessee of the shop where the fire first broke out is T. Shcahan, a returned soldier, who is at present at Rotorua. A brother has been managing the busi T ness for him. At a few minutes to midnight, Dr.' 1 Steven passed tho buildings, when everything appeared all right, but just after midnight flames burs't forth in gr<;at volumo. Sheahan's building was owned by Dt. T. L. Paget, now ot Palmerston North; Finnerty's by Mr. Wake, solicitor, Auckland; and tlie York Chambers block by Ebenezer Burgess, now a resident of .Hamilton. Tho Insurances. The insurances so far available are:— Dr. PagetV building, .£525 in the United office: Sheahan's stock, fittings, and billiard table ,£4oo'in the Ocean Company; Ford's stock and tools,' ,£SO in the Ocean office; Burgess's building, .£7OO in the State Fire Office; Tyrer's office furniture, .£IOO in tho Northern office; Mrs. Barker's stock and fittings, iCi!SO in .the Atlas Company; S. Cook's furniture and stock, £50 in the Atlas office; Harris's 6lock and fitbingst ,£IOO in the Commercial Union; J. D. Healy's office" furniture, ifiSO iu the Commercial Union; On Keo's building JUOO, stock in the Commercial Union; Theosophieal Society's furniture. ,£3O in the Ocean office. OUTBREAKATPAIIIATUA GRANDSTAND AT SHOWGROUNDS DESTROYED. By Telegraph—Press Association Pahiatua, May G.. In tlie early hours of this morning, tho grandstand at the Pahiatua A. and P. Association's showgrounds was totally destroyed by fire, together, urtli tho contents, valued at ,£IOOO. To re-erect the building will cost over .£IOOO. The only insurance was for £SOO in the Farmers' .Mutual Office. Protect yourself by installing tho "Mininuix" Fire Extinguisher.' S. George Nathan and Co., Wellington, sole distributing agents in N.Z.—Advt.