A HUGE FIRE
DAMAGE AT WHANGAREI
ENORMOUS LOSS ANTICIPATED
(By Telegraph—Per Press Association
WHANGAREI, January 14
Never s iince the great fire vhicn swept the town centre of Whangarei about thirty-six years ago, has such a conflagration raged here as the one which broke out just before seven o'clock to-night, involving one of the most important business blocks in the heart of the town, located at the base of Bank Street, near its junction with Game ran 'Street.
The fire originated at the back portion of the Farmers’ Union Trading Company's large genera] merchandise premises, which were constructed in brick and concrete, having three storeys at the back and two in the front.
The Fire Brigade were quickly on the .scene, when the fire became visible through a window of the basement. Though the Brigade attacked tfie outbreak from three sides of the building, with a moderate water-pros sure, the flames quickly spread through the .interior.
Billows of smoke were issuing from tht eastern windows ilt 7.10 p.m,, when a member of the firm's s taff rushed in and removed a box cif explosives. Five minutes later fl a rites were visible on the top floor, Shortly after eight o’clock the whole structure was a terrible inferno, with flames issuing from every aperture and the roof.
The' adjoining buildings on either side, Hosking’s Drapery Emporium and Chaplin's (tobacconist) and East (fruiterer) were also well alight- by this time.
The walls of the Farmers’ Union Trading Company’s premises collapsed at 8.10 o’clock, and those of Hosking’s shop fell ten minutes later. The other occupiers of the shops in the vicinity removed portion of their stocks the remainder being damaged by smoke (and water.
The scene presented a dazzling spectacle that was observable for many miles of a radims.
The loss, which is not yet ascertainable, will be enormous.
The telephone and telegraphic services to the north are largely disorvanised.
The outbreak was well under control at 9 o’llock.
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Hokitika Guardian, 15 January 1932, Page 2
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327A HUGE FIRE Hokitika Guardian, 15 January 1932, Page 2
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