FIRE OUTBREAKS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 August 1924, Page 1

FIRE OUTBREAKS.

AN INCIPIENT ALARM. On Sunday night at 7.50 o’clock tlio North Revell Street firebell rang out nn alarm, shortly after followed by the bell at No 1 station. The eau.se of the alarm was a fire in an incipient stage in the trap shell of Mr Erie James, butcher, Revell Street, alongside the butchery. A few buckets of water soon overcame the fire. The •blaze was restricted to a small amount of straw alongside the wall of the building. Comparatively no damage was done. JEWISH SYNAGOGUE. GUTTED. Tiiis morning at 12.95 o'clock the No 1 firebell again rang out an alarm and it was at once seen that the Jewish Synagogue in Tam-red Street was ,m fire. The outbreak started in the north-eastern corner and had n good hold when first seen. The fire burnt through the walls and ran up to the roof, and was blazing merrily when the Fire Brigade arrived. There was a goad pressure of water and tlte outbreak was quickly mastered, hut not before the building was practiciiUy gutted. The parchment scrolls and the records were saved, the former only being slightly damaged by water.

The cause of the outbreak is a mystery. but everything points to it being the act of vandals, as no one had been ie, the 'building for some time. The Synagogue was erected -in -1867 when there was a large congregation here who gradually moved away to other parts of New Zealand, and of late it has not boon used for services. Tlte building was insured for £2OO in the Sta'ndurtl Office.