HUGE BLAZE

Hokitika Guardian, 27 November 1928, Page 4

HUGE BLAZE

IN WELLINGTON CITY

MANY BUILDINGS DFSSPROYED

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, Nov. 26.

One of the most serious conflagra-

tions in the history of Wellington broke out at about ten o’clock, hounded by Courtenay Place, Blair Street, Wakefield Street, and Allen Street. The chief premises in the block—few if any it seems, will escape—are mostly shops and warehouses, but tbe most important buildings are tbe large fruit and vegetable markets.

BIGGEST FIRE FOR YEARS.

A GRIM SPECTACLE.

WELLINGTON. November 27

For several hours last night Wellington was treated to the grim spectacle of one of the. greatest conflagrations seen in the city for years.

At 10 o’clock great billows of flame rolled tip from Blair Street quarter, in which are situated the fruit marts and other produce warehouses. A roaring, devouring sea of flame raged through half the street block.

Estimates of damage range, from £ 150,000 to £200,000. Tbe premises involved in more or less total destruction are:—

Bowie and Co., fruit auctioneers; Open China Warehouse; Tohtn Printing Works; Thompson Bros., and Co.; I,aery and Co. ; Leary, Beveridge, and Co.;

Johnson and Elgin; Gridin and Savage; Brown Bros. ;

Geddcs, Ltd. ; T'etigle Smith and Sons; N./i. Platers, Ltd. ;

Goldingham, Beckett, Ltd. Also a number of smaller firms operating in the neighbourhood. At first the fire was confine* to a big brick tliroc-storied premises owned by Thompson Bros., proprietors of Wellington Fruit and Produce Exchange, which runs straight from Blair Street to Allen Street, with big frontages to both thoroughfares. At. ten o’clock the fire was deepseated in tbe centre of this building and was undoubtedly of great extent and fierce intensity. Halt an hour later the brigade was working hard in both Blair and Allen Streets, but did not appear to have water enough at the northern end of Thompson’s building. An eighty-foot ladder was elevated into position and rested on the parapet of an adjoining three-storied structuie. The crowd cheered the firemen as they mounted to the top to attack tlio file in the flank, but their leads had no apparent effect, so fiercely was the file burning. Engines were now arriving on the scene from all quarters, having been summoned from the suburban stations. Load after lead was run out and by 31 o’clock the whole city plant was in operation, but it was not enough. Aloamvhile ominous coils ol smoke were rising from buildings in Wakefield Sirete, where Teagle Smith and Sons promises were .evidently ablaze, the inflammable stock burning furiously. The fire thus spread in three directions. and while the brigade were battling against heavy odds there was still another outbreak in Blair Street, when Tolan’s printing works and the neighbouring premises took lire. Truly the brigade had their hands mor e than full, and the equipment which a few days ago was pronounced the finest in New Zealand, proved unequal to the occasion. Luckily there was no wind at any time during the four hours that the lire raged most fiercely. Had there been anything like a breeze, unquestionably the whole street would have gone and the buildings on the other side would have been seriously endange red. ______