DISASTROUS FIRE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2185, 5 October 1920, Page 3

DISASTROUS FIRE.

MUNICIPAL CHAMBERS TOTALLY DESTROYED.

The Municipal Chambers in Main Street were totally destroyed by fire on ,Sunday night. The fire was first seen at about 9.30 pan. by Mr J. Wyeth, night watchman at the N.Z. Shipping Co.’s stores, distant about 75 yards, at the rear of the burning building. The fire was notied at the back portion of the building, occupied by the caretaker, Mr and Mrs Sexton. The alarm on the syren was given by Mr Trevelyan, and the brigade, with the chemical engine, were quickly on the scene. The itames then had a good hold of the living quarters, and wore working against a breeze to the front portion of the building. A band of willing workers managed to salve the contents of the front offices, occupied by the Town Clerk, the gas department showroom, the Drainage Board office, and the Mayor’s- room, occupied as jy temporary office by Mr G. T. Woodroofe. The effects of the public library, reading room . and council chamber were, however, destroyed. It was impossible with the plant available, to do other than concentrate on the outbuildings, which were saved. The (lames (ravelled towards the Shipping Co.’s premises* where large quantities of hemp and tow are stored. Every precaution was taken to protect this building, the walls and roof of wliich are constructed of iron.

The council building, which was of wood, was erected about 14 vears ago, at a cost of £1,200. The collection of book's in the public library were valued at about £4OO, but many of these are in .circulation. The loss in this connection will, however, be very great. A number of gas cookers, etc., were stored in the Council Chamber, and these, together with the furnishings, were destroyed. The Council’s records wer preserved in the large safe. The whole of the caretaker's household effects were lost. The insurances are: “Building £SOO, library £2OO, and outhouses £2o, in the Stale hire Office; caretaker's effects, furniture £loo, piano £l5O, in the Alliance Office. Mrs Sexton left (he building at about 7.30 p.m., when everything appeared to be safe. There was no one in the building at the lime of the outbreak.