FIRE IN BUSINESS BLOCK

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 110, 7 February 1928, Page 10

FIRE IN BUSINESS BLOCK

EXTENSIVE DAMAGE DONE FLAMES EXTEND TO ADJOINING BUILDING Dominion Special Service. Auckland, February 6. A block of buildings in Queen Street comprising.' various shops and offices is in a badly charred condition as a result of a fire last night, which is said to have broken out on the top floor of the Mining Chambers and extended to an adjoining building which is o.wned by Dingwall Trust and occupied by Hugh Wright, Ltd. The outbreak occurred at about 11.30 o’clock last night, and to those who immediately gathered it seemed as though the. flames would sweep the block. The city brigade, however, soon had the flames under control. Practically the whole of the Mining Chambers was badly charred, and in addition, considerable damage was done by water and smoke. The most extensive damage appears to be the stock in Hugh Wright Ltd.’s department for ladies in the Dingwall Trusts! Building. It runs into several thou sands of pounds.

Insurances on the block are distributed as follows: —Dingwall Trust, £3315, in the Alliance Office, and £315 in the New Zealand; Mining Chambers, £4OOO in the Phoenix, and £l5OO m the Norwich Union; contents of Hugh Wright’s shop, £6OOO in the Phoenix Ray light Co., £lOO in the Phoenix; John Graham and Co., £lOO in the South British; C. L. Stevenson, £2OOO in the Alliance; G. H. Baker, £75 in the New Zealand; Mrs. Ansanne, £250 in the New Zealand; W. S. Jameson, £BOO in the National, and £3OO in the London and Lancashire; Dean Taylor, £5O in the United; Quoin Club, £2OO in the North British, and £lOO in the New Zealand; Berryman and Burkett, £350 in the Home Office; Belmont Tea Rooms, £6OO in the Alliance. The Mining Chambers’ block is owned by Hugh Wright, Ltd. OUTBREAK IN FURNITURE SHOP GROUND FLOOR BADLY DAMAGED. Dominion Special Service. Auckland, February 6. Damage estimated between £BOOO and £lO,OOO was done by a fire which broke out in Tonson Garlick’s furniture shop, Karangahape Road, about 4.30 this morning. All that remains on the ground floor is a mass of burned and charred carpets, linos, materials and furniture. When the city fire brigade reached the place it was fairly spouting flames, and there was considerable danger to surrounding premises. Firemen attacked the blaze from every angle and with half a dozen leads of water going at high pressure they soon began to make headway. It was a short and sharp fight, and the blazing timber soon gave place to smouldering debris. It was learned this morning that the fire had started near an electric light switchboard and experts were investigating that aspect during the day. The building is a two storey one, and once the fire got a good hold there was no chance of saving it from destruction. The ground floor of Tonson Garlick prefnises was burned out. The upper floor was considerably damaged and a good deal of water found its way into the basement. As a result of the fire about 50 employees are temporarily out of work. The insurances total £19,000. They are distributed as follows: Insurance Office of Australia, £8000; Ocean Office, £4000; Llovds, £4000; and South British, £3OOO. SEVERAL SMALL OUTBREAKS Shortly after 2 a.m. yesterday the Petone Fire Brigade received a call to the premises of H. Ratley, cycle dealer, of 146 Jackson Street, and quickly suppressed a slight outbreak which had occurred in the kitchen. Mr. Ratley awoke about 2 a.m., and noticing a smell of burning, went downstairs and found the kitchen and living-room well filled with smoke. It is believed that the fire originated from a defective cooking range. The building is one of a block of old wooden shops. The insurances were not available yesterday. A six-roomed, wooden residence, 19 Milne Terrace, suffered damage to the passage and to the iron roof by a fire which occurred shortly after one o’clock yesterdav afternoon. The house is owned and occupied by Charles Saville Lumley. Insurances were £4OO in the Alliance Office on the contents, and £l4OO on the building in the- Phoenix Office. The Fire Brigade answered three calls to gorse and grass fires yesterday, none of them serious. FOUR COTTAGES BURNT. BY Telegraph.—press association. Invercargill, February 6. A fire, started on Sunday morning about half a mile from the Tuatapere township for the purpose of clearing bush, got out of control later in the day owing to a strong north-west wind that was blowing. The fire spread rapidly, soon reaching the old sawmill. The mill was burned to the ground anti four cottages in the vicinity also caught fire and were reduced to cinders. Residents at the edge of the bush had an anxious time in the afternoon, but fortunately the wind changed and the flames were carried past the houses. No further damage is reported. OUTBREAK IN GARAGE. BY Telegraph.—Press association. Invercargill, February 6. 'At 2.30 this morning a fire was discovered in the back portion of Russell’s garage. The flames had a ‘good hold when discovered by the caretaker, whose prompt action in calling the brigade and using a hose prevented the flames from spreading. The fire was confined to the part of the building used for storing bulk spare parts and sec-ond-hand vehicles. Four cycles, 23 cars and trucks, and 9 cases of motor accessories and pumps were more or less damaged. Approximately £4OOO damage was done to the stock and about £2OOO to the building. The cause of the outbreak is unknown. The total insurances are £9OOO on the building, £116,000 on the cars, and £B4OO on the general stock, all in the United Office.

The need for protection against fire loss is obvious. Consult the Mercantile and General Insurance Company Ltd., Panama Street, Wellington.— Adyj.