KAIKOURA BLAZE

Hokitika Guardian, 21 January 1932, Page 5

KAIKOURA BLAZE

BLOCK WIPED OUT. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH January 19. A block of buildings in the wesr end of Kaikoura- was destroyed by fir u early this morning. 'The fire which apparently originated in a shop occupied by Mr E. Reeves, cycle dealer, spread rapidly, and in tli e absence of fire-fighting apparatus, soon demolished the whole block of buildings, comprising shops and offices. The buildings destroyed included an unoccupied office, and one occupied by M. Scott, solicitor, who lost valuable documents an unoccupied > shop owned by Mrs T. Alexander; Mr 0. Reeves, cycle agent’s shop, with stock including a motor car and motor cycles; a confectionery and fruit shop occupied by Mr Scott, and two two-storied unoccupied shops, all owned by Mr E. H. Workman, of the Adelphi Hotel. Mr Workman’s insurances, totalling £609, were in the British Traders and Phoenix Office, and hi s loss includes over £6O worth of liquor stocks which were not insured. A bakery and confectionery shop, occupied by Mr Arthur 8011, was saved by the willing efforts of a bucket brigade, but bis stock suffered considerable damage. Mr G. Ferry’s jewellery shop, with stock, adjacent to Mr C. Reeve’s shop, was also destroyed. Tlie shop belonged to Mrs S. Binney (Christchurch),