TWO FIRES IN PAEROA.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5097, 7 March 1927, Page 2

TWO FIRES IN PAEROA.

INCIPIENT OUTBREAK IN HOUSEDRUIDS’ HALL GUTTED. The members of the Paeroa Volunteer Fire Brigade experienced a busy time last night, when they were called upcin to fight, two fires within an hour of each other. Shortly before eleven o’clock the first alarm was given, and the brigade was summoned to an incipient outbreak in Willoughby Street at the residence owned by Mrs M. D. Shaw, Waihi Beach, and occupied by Mr S. McKee, his wife, and child, and Mrs E. Simmonds and child.

The fire appears to have originated beside the chimney near the ceiling in the kitchen. The brigade, under Captain W. Moore, was quickly on the scene, and in a short time ran out a couple o'f lengths of hose from the sixinch main at the junction of Willoughby and Arney Streets. The walls in the immediate vicinity of the outbreak were badly charred, but the fire was practically confined to a small area in the one room, although other portions of t,he house were damaged by smoke and water. It is understood that. McKee had £lOO on his furniture and effects in the New Zealand Company, and Mrs Simmonds had her effects insured for £5O with the Liverpool, Landon, and Globe Office. DRUIDS’ HALL BLAZE. LOSS SUSTAINED BY LODGES. Shortly before midnight the firebell again rang out, and this time the brigade wag summoned to Bradley Street, where it was found that the whole of t.he rear portion of the Druids’ Hall was ablaze. Many of the firemen were still at the station when the second alarm was received, and the engine left in quick time with a full complement of firemen aboard. Two leads o'f hose were coupled to the 4-inch main in Bradley Street and the quelling of the fire was attacked from the rear and front of the building. Fo’ - tunately there was practically no wind at the time, and this fact greatly helped the firemen to keep the flames in check and prevent the fire from spreading to the adjacent residences, which are only a few feet away on either side o'f the hall. After nearly an hour’s strenuous fighting the brigade was successful in quelling the outbreak, but not before the building had been gutted. The outbreak appears to have originated at the rear of the building in the kitchen. In this portion there was installed an electric water-heater-and it has been suggested 'that in manipulating the light switches in tire kitchen the water-heater switch had been inadvertently put on anil not switched off. It is estimated that the heater would boil for about, a fortnight before any serious damage would occur. It was in the vicinity of the heater that the fire was burning fiercest, and although there is noproof, it is considered that it was thereabouts that the outbreak occurred. Nearby residents state that they heard a loud explosion coming 'from the rear of the hall, and before they could realise what had happened the building burst into flames, which rose to a great

From inquiries made t,his morning it was .learned that the Druids’ Lodge had the hall insured Tor £4OO in the Norwich Union. Office, while the turnlture, piano and regalia were .covered by a policy ’tor £loo’ in the Queensland Office.

The Loyal Jubilee Lodge of Oddfellows, which also held its meetings in the building, has lost the whole cf its lodge furniture, which was not covered by insurance. Much of the regalia, although not actually burned, has been damaged by smoke and water.

The hall was erected on its present site and used as the first Presbyterian Church In Paeroa about thirty years ago. Some fourteen years ago the church trustees, on completion cf the present church, sold the building to the Druids’ Lodge, and it has been in regular use ever since. Three years ago the lodge expended £250 on the hall, and in addition to enlarging the rear portion the whole structure was thoroughly renovated and brought up-to-date. It is understood that both the local lodges are heavy losers as. a result o’f t.he fire.