ANOTHER DISASTROUS FIRE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2109, 30 March 1920, Page 3

ANOTHER DISASTROUS FIRE.

SEVEN BUSINESS PREMISES DESTROYED. %, STOCKS SALVAGED. OUTBREAK A MYSTERY 7 . During the past few years Foxton’s Main Street has suffered very considerably from fires, the larger proportion of the business premises having been destroyed and rebuilt during that period. It was the scene of another disastrous conflagration on Sunday night, resulting in the total destruction of Mr M. E. Pcrreau’s block, containing living apartments and four shops, and Mr P. Hennessy's building of three shops. Mr Perreau’s was a two storeyed building, the upstairs portion being occupied by the family, and the owner also occupied two of the shops, one as a baker’s and confectionery business, and the other as a marble bar. The Other two shops were tenanted by Mr S. Mallar, hairdresser and tobacconist, and Mr J. N. Rider, bootmaker. Portion of Mr Hennes.sy’s building was of two storeys, the upstairs portion of which was unoccupied. The shops were tenanted by Mr A. Heasman, tailor, Mr S. W. Hudson, fruiterer and confectioner, and The C. M. Ross Co,, Ltd.’s .drapery establishment.

The fire, which broke out shortly before 11.30 o’clock, started between the washhouse and lavatory, which adjoined (he kitchen at the rear of Mr Perrean’s building. nnd was first noticed by a youth named Vincent Crichton, who resides with his uncle at:-the rear of the latter’s shop*in Main Street. He was reading' in bed at the time, -and noticed the glare through the window. He got up and saw that Mr Perreau’s building was alight at the back, and immediately called his uncle, who ran to ring the (ire bell, ('ailing out Fire! Fire! along the street. Phis awakened Mr Porreau and others, who were quickly on (he scene, and started to light the outbreak. At this time the lire had not got a very great hold, but owing to the lack of lire fighting appliances the workers, despite most strenuous efforts, were unable to check the (lames. Members of the fire hilgade were soon on the spot, and the band of voluntary workers was added to as the puhlie, aroused from their sleep by the chinging of the firebell, arrived oh the scene. These workers put in a very strenuous time in I lie heat and smoke, in an effort to beat the (lames, but without success, the (ire gradually spreading, and if was soon apparent that it would lie impossible to save the building, and eft oris were concentrated on salvaging the stock, etc., in the various shops. There was no need to call for volunteers for this work, a" very large band, including a number of ladies, soon being hard at work removing the goods to a place of safety. A start was made in Mr Perreau s shops, and also upstairs, and a (air amount was saved. Naturally, with the rush and bustle, a good deal ot. damage was done to some of the salvaged goods. There were ample workers, and whilst some were engaged in Air Porrean’s shop, odiers

were shifting goods from the other premises. The salvage was p.aced in safety from the Haines on the footpath on the opposite side of the street, and also in the shops there; in other premises along’ the street, which were not in jeopardy, and ui Messrs Pearson and Head's residence in Clyde Street. Whilst the salvaging was going on the fire brigade members, assisted by a large bucket brigade, kept steadily at work to retard the progress of the flames, and Ibis gave more time for the saving of valuable slock and goods, and others wore keeping a

sharp look-out for sparks around buildings in (he vicinity. Fortunately, there was not much wind at the time, otherwise it is hard to say how far the damage would have extended. As it was, some of the buildings in the vicinity bad some narrow escapes, large sparks falling all over the place, which started fires when they fell on anything inflammable. These, however, were quickly extinguivhed by those who were keeping watch. The building on the south side of Mr Perreau’s block, which is of ferro-concrete, owned by Mrs M. E. Barber, and occupied by Mr Ct. J. Kelly, cycle and motor agent, was protected by a brick wall, which towered wqII above it, and after it was found impossible to do anything further at the rear of Mr Perroau’s buildings, the efforts of the brigade were concentrated on preventing the (lames from spreading to this building. The heat was intense, and had broken the plate glass windows, and the flames licked round the front and caught the wooden verandah. The brigade’s efforts, however, were eventually successful in preventing the fire from spreading to it. By this time the whole of Mr Pcrreaus block .was a mass of flames. A brick' wall separated the building from that owned by Mr Heanessy, but this did not prevent the fire from spreading, the flames licking, round the front and back of the wall and quickly gained a good hold. Portion of this building w;p very old, and burned very fiercely, spreading rapidly, and was soon all ablaze. The Bed Shield Club was detached about 20 feet from the burning building, and united efforts were now made to save this building. The lire engine hose was kept continually playing on Ik o wnli, and a bucket brigade assisted from the roof. Fortunately the nearest wall of the burning building was constructed of corrugated iron, which confined the ■lames to the inside. This wall kept t, landing until the greatest danger

was past, but even then the firefighters had a most strenuous time in savin" the Club, as the. heat was terrific. Their efforts were, however, crowned with success, and the building still stands. It was severely scorched, and the windows broken.

The origin of the fire is a mystery. Mr Perreau states that on the night of the fire, about 9.15 o’clock, as was his usual habit before retiring, lie made an inspection of the building, inside and out, and everything was safe, there being no sign of lire. There had been no fire in the washhouse since Friday, and no one had been oat to that portion of the building where’ the lire originated since early in the afternoon.

The following are the values of the property and the insurances on same: —M. E. Perreau, building, stock, and furniture, valued at £3,G00; insurances, building (State) £1,550; stock and furniture (Northern), £225; plate glass windows (New Zealand) £-1-1. P. Hennessy, building valued at £1,400, insured for £9OO in the Northern Office. J. N. Rider, stock £1,700, insurance (Guardian) £1,200. A. Heasman, stock and fittings £2OO, insurance {Commercial Union) £llO. S. Mattar, stock £IOO, insurance (Commercial Union) £3OO. The C. M. Ross Co., Ltd., stock £4,000, insurance (Standard) £I,OOO, (North British £I,OOO/ S. YY. Dudson, stock £2OO, insurance (Commercial Union) £l5O. In addition to the above, considerable damage has been done to the Red Shield Club, and aiso to tiie shop occupied by Dir G. G. Kelly. Two of the plate glass windows on the opposite side of the street' have also been cracked.