BIG BLAZE AT KOHU KOHU.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3007, 6 March 1926, Page 2

BIG BLAZE AT KOHU KOHU.

NO FIRE BRIGADE OR WATER SUPPLY.

Auckland, March 5. A disastrous five, resulting in the demolition of seven buildings near the waterfront occurred at Kohu Kohu, on Hokianga harbour, late last night. The fire, which burned for five hours, destroyed a section of the telegraph and telephone lines. Great difficulty was experienced last night in communicating with Kohu Kohu, which is over 150 miles from Auckland. The fire broke out at eleven o’clock last night, presumably in the premises of Messrs. Cooper and Sons, storekeepers, and spread at an amazing rate. The town does not possess a water reticulation service, and there is no tire brigade, but the residents turned out in full force, and a bucket brigade was organised. Water obtained from the harbour nearby was poured on the blazing buildings, but this had little effect on the fire, which, in turn, destroyed the Bank of New South Wales, the public library, the Courthouse, Mrs Shelford’s tea and dining roms, an old hall used as a sample room, and a back building.

While the men were fighting the fire and removing as much of the contents of the buildings as possible, the women formed themselves into a salvage brigade, and saved an entire collection of books from the library building.

Grave fears were entertained at one stage during the night that a large .sawmill close to the scene of the fire would be destroyed, but this was saved, largely as the result of the efforts of the volunteer fire lighters.

No estimate of the extent of the damage was available to-night, but it was stated that most of the risk was held in the New Zealand Insurance Office. The Bank of New South Wales resumed business this morning in a building placed at the disposal of the manager by the branch of the Bank of New Zealand.