SERIOUS AUCKLAND FIRE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3979, 12 July 1915, Page 6

SERIOUS AUCKLAND FIRE.

OITY BLOCK ABLAZE. DAMAGE. ESTIMATED AT £12,000. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TKAGUM.) AUCKLAND, July 11. Damage approximating £12,0*00 was don© by fire which broke out early on. Saturday evening in a triangular block of buildings near the Town Hall, between Lome. Rutland, and Wellesley Streets. The firei originated in a three-story furniture factory in Lome Street, occupied by Tonson, Garlick and Co., and had: a very good hold before the brigade arrived. Soon afu-r the firemen began to pour water into the mass of flame, a water mam in the' vicinity burst, and the water pressure decreased to such an. extent that the hose could not throw it much beyond- the second storey. It is thought probable that this allowed the fire to spread more readily via the adjoining back premises to Plummer Brothers’ three-story hat factory in Rutland Street. The firemen attacked it here again and succeeded in confining it to the top storey, though the stock and plant in the lower fiats were damaged, by water. The firemen also extinguished the fire as it was getting a. hold on the back of one of the technical school buildings adjoining , the hat factory. Then, however, the flames were found to have spread in tho opposite direction to a large three-storev building next the furniture factory in Lome Street, and lout secured a strong hold in the second story, used as an adjunct to Plummer Bros.’ hat factory. Chemicals and oils wore apparently stored here, for tne fire burned with great intensity, but the firemen, nevertheless, saved a large motor mirage on the ground floor owned by Mr. G. W. Spragg. The last of about £12,000 worth of private cars had been removed only a few minutes before the fire Iroke out.

The third floor was unoccupied. Meantime, tho inmates -of the Salvation Army’s People’s Palace and tho Y.M.C.A., in Wellesley Street, the backs of whose premises run into the middle of the affected block, were making a hurried exit with goods and chattels, and a willing crowd began to carry out furniture. The back windows of these premises were broken by the heat, but by this time the fire was under control and did not spread further. Tlie fire was a magnificent spectacle, tho flames shooting high and masses °f gigantic sparks being carried over the adjacent buildings and Albert Park by a fairly strong wind, and a huge crowd collected. The fire burned for about an hour ■and a-half. Its origin was unknown. Tho insurances aro as follows: Tonson and Garlick—Offices unknown, machinery £S9OO, buildings £3OOO. Plummer Brothers, Rutland Street —-Plant, _ Guardian £2050, Commercial Union £l5O, Liverpool, London and Globe £1031; plant in Lome Street premises, Liverpool, London and Globe £1250. Plummer’s premises, Rutland St., owned by the estate of W. Crow the r —lnsured for £IOOO in the South British ; premises in Lome Street, similarly owned, insured for £2500 in the South' British. Mr. Spragg had £IOOO in the South British on his stock, which was practical !y undamaged.