THREE SHOPS DAMAGED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20053, 27 September 1939, Page 14

THREE SHOPS DAMAGED

BLAZE IN WAIMATE BOOKSELLER’S GUTTED (Per Press Assoclntion.) WAIMATE, this day. A fire completely gutted John Bowron, Limited’s news agency and bookseller’s shop and spread under the roof to the ceiling of Jones and Son's butchery and later to the ceiling of T. McPherson’s shoe store. <? The stock in both the latter premises was badly damaged by water and smoke. The alarm was given at 8.35 p.m., when the brigade had a difficult task of subduing the fire in Bowron’s shop, where the flames had a good hold among the books, stationery and fancy goods. The brigade battled successfully against the volumes of smoke and intense heat, with the roof red hot, to confine the outbreak in Jones’ premises to the ceiling and rafters. The fire in McPherson’s roof was .comparatively minor and was easily handled. Smoke also filled Mrs. Ward’s confectionery premises, the fourth shop in the block. The butchery and bookseller’s shops, which are owned by Mr. A. Jones, were insured for £7OO each. Bowron’s stock insurance is unavailable. Mr. McPherson owned the other two shops, which were insured for £6OO. McPherson’s slock was insured for £6OO.