FIRE AT TE KUITI.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 507, 9 October 1912, Page 5

FIRE AT TE KUITI.

MR ERIKSSON'S OFFICE

GUTTED

FIRE BRIGADE'S SMART WORK

At midnight on Saturday, Ta Kuiti residents were aroused by an alarm of fire and the outbreak was quickly located in the buildings of Mr C. G. Eriksson, in Rora street, opposite the Union Bank. As the building occupies a block with the variuua shops only divided by partitions, it seemed as though the whole structure would be demolished. The local brigade was quickly on the scene, however, and getting smartly to work under Foreman Edgar, they soon had several streams of water playing on the fire, and succeeded in confining the blaze to the seat of the outbreak. The interior of Mr Eriksson's office was gutted, and a considerable amount cf material was destroyed. A small amount of damage was done to the adjoining tea room occupied by Mrs I M. Robertson.

The brigade is to be complimented on its smart work which undoubtedly prevented the outbreak asuming more serious proportions. The cause of the outreak is Somewhat of a mystery. Mr Erickson was away at his farm at Mokau-iti and the tea room was untenanted at the time, but it is surmised that the fire was the result of a spark from the tea room kitchen range which is close to the partition which separates the kitchen from the adjoining office. The building is insured in the National Office for £250, and; Mr Eriksson's stock, on which he is a heavy loser, was insured for £IOO in the same office.

It appears that members of the Te Kuiti Fire Brigade were running considerable risk on Saturday nieht in fighting the fire in Mr Eriksson's office. In conversation yesterday, Mr Eriksson, who just returned to Te Kuiti on Monday evening, informed a Chronicle representative that a large stock of oil and methylated spirits was stored in the building. Had the fire reached the oil and spirits a disastrous explosion would have occurred. The narrowness of the escape may be gathered from the fact that the oil casks were charred almost through, and the tops of turpentine cases were consumed.