A BLENHEIM BLAZE.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 November 1925, Page 2

A BLENHEIM BLAZE.

XEWMAX'S GARAGE DKSTKOAF.D

UV Tl-XEGItArIl —PRESS ASSN., 00PYH1GIIT

BI.F.NHFJ.M, November 12,

This alternooti an outbreak ol hie i,t Newman’s garage swept the entire building from Wviien to High Streets. Tlie garage contained a large number of cars. None were saved. The lire at Newman's Garage was one of a most spectacular nature. The building became a mass of llames within five minutes of the alarm being given. The lire originated in the workshop. where a mechanic was soldering down a small tin of lubricating oil. when it burst into llames. ( Chemical extinguishers were brought into me, but without avail. The Lire Brigade was then summoned at once, hut before it could arrive, the flames had spread tn the oil-soaked workbenches, and funned from one end ot the building to the other, quickly ignited the whole place. \ service car from Nelson arrived in the garage just as the llames hurst through the workshop door, and the driver lost no time in hacking his ear into the street again.

Two or three other ears were also run out into the street, hut in an incredibly short space of time, the llames spread so rapidly, that ulc building became untenable, and from ton to a dozen cars had to he abandoned to their fate. Some of these cars, which have been extremely damaged, were brand new. the number including a valuable demonstration ear of a make new to Blenheim, which arrived only Ihis morning.

It is impossible, at this stage; to compute the damage to the cars, most of which wore privately owned, and were merely garaged at Newman’s. The outbreak was so sudden that there was no time to save the firm’s Looks and office documents. Inti fortunately these escaped destruction, and were salved wet, lv.it still readable. Details as to the insurances and estimates as to the damage were not available.

I'THTII Fit PARTICULARS. BLENHEIM November 13. Newman's fire insurances are buildings £1.500 in Sun Ollice. The stock is covered, hut details are not available. Twelve motor-ears and one motor cycle were more or less damaged. Three service and two private ears were saved undamaged. Total insurances-on ears are. as tar as is known —ln Royal £275, Standard £75, Phoenix £SO. Wright Stephenson £SOO, South British £75. Two new closed ears owned hv Combined Buyers, Wellington, are covered in the South British, hut the amount is unknown.