OUTBREAK OF FIRE.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 February 1922, Page 1

OUTBREAK OF FIRE.

OLD COURT BUILDINGS GUTTED

The firebell rang out a vigorous alarm of fire this morning about 2.20 o’clock. ■lt was at once seen that a substantial conflagration was taking place the flames .vividly lighting up the sky., The scene of .the outbreak was the disused Magistrate’s Court and D e eds' Offices ,at the rear .pf Ab e Hrge brjck, Government buildings in Sewell Street' When the alarm was given the flames were bursting through the roof and the inflammable woodwork of the structure made ,a great blaze. The Fire (Brigade were qn the scene in excellent time and smartly Fan out three leads of hose There was, luckily, a full reservoir and the water pressure was excellent. The attack soon made itself felt, and in a few minutes the fire was under control, though it was past four o’clock before the Brigade members were able to leave ,tho scene and take their gear back to the station, where Deputy gupt. Davidson (in the absence of Supt. Braddon, incapacitated owing to a recent accident), con- ; gratulated the .members on their excellent muster and the smart manner in which they had .turned out and got the water on. The building damaged contains three large strong rooms : t>hese yvere with Government property, .including benzine, ,for the Fores--ry Department, and records of the Magistrate’s .Court, and these were saved. A large number of screens, and mqst of the general electoral ballot boxes were stored in the building, and were destroyed. The building from the courtroom southwards was completely gutted. The origin of the outbreak is~ a mystery. The Forest Department used the old courtroom as a garage, but the motor car was not there, having been taken south yesterday' afternoon by some of .the officers.