HEAVY DAMAGE

Hokitika Guardian, 26 May 1933, Page 5

HEAVY DAMAGE

G 0 VERNMENT; BUSES: BURNED. (Per Press Association Copyright.) . . HASTINGS,: May. 25. . The framework and upholstery of two .Government buses, valued at J320C0 each, were completely destroyed Und more extensive damage to a smaller and less valuable -bus was done by a fire which also completely gutted a large wood and iron building in which they were housed to-night. , ■ A So far the origin of the fire is not definitely known, but it is assumed" that it wag claused’byia. cigarette - ;, in one of .the bu- ; .es. The last bus was garaged at. seven o’clock, since- when no one connected with .the bus .service, entered the building. The : shed was capable of accommodating eight of tlr& buses used - on' - . the NapierK|’..sting’r • run, but-the three buses damaged were the only ones'there at the time. ■ ’. ”

The two larger buses had been on the run between Napier and Hastings for the past two years, and they were in good condition, but the smaller one had been in • use for 'a much longer period. So good a hold did the flames have when the alarm was given that it was not possible to remove the buses to safety. Tbe fire brigade were engaged for forty minutes before the fire was quelled. The insurances ore unavailable. ’

HARBOUR BOARD’S CONFERENCE WELLINGTON, May 25.

It was arranged at a meeting of the Wellington Harbour Board that Mr Walter Nash, M.P., who will be in Canada at the time, should be the Board's representative to the Conference of Port Authorities to be kola at Toronto- from September 4tli. to September 9th, •. . -