BIG FIRE AT WAIUKU.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 204, 29 August 1916, Page 2

BIG FIRE AT WAIUKU.

Business Premises Demolished' Incendiarism Suspected. A big blaze occurred at Waiuku in the early hours of yesterday (Monday) morning, s complete block of business buildings being demolished thereby. Tbe site of tbe fire was !n Queen street— nearly opposite tbe Waiuku Hotel—and tbe premises (bat fell victims to the flames comprised those of Mr Farrelly, carpenter; Mr A. E. King, stationer; ! Mr Liimmet. butcher; Mr F. Dromgool, solicitor, and Mr W. J. King, land agent (joint office); Mr (inbble, saddler; Mr Walding's, supper rooms and boarding house; an empty shop adjoining Mr Walding's; Mr H. T. Bint, baker; an empty shop adjoining Mr Hint's; and Mr H. Storey's, jeweller, with billiard-room (untenanted) in the rear. The owneis of the respective properties were Mr Gribble (tbe first five mentioned). Mr H. C. Mellsup (Mr Walding's), Mr J. Denize, ot Otaua (Mr Bint's and tbe vacant shops on either side), and Mr Henare Kaibau (Mr Storey's). Of the foregoing establishments Mr Bint's and Mr Walding's were the only ones that were used for residential purposes, and with tbe conflagration being discovered about 4 a.m. so quickly did the flames spread that the occupants thereof had little time to make good tboir cßcap?. Mr Storey's jewellery shop was situated at the lower end ot the block, and as it took some little time before the fire encircled tha particular area he was enabled to save the greater part of his stock, the contents of practically tbe whole of tbe other premises perishing with the advance of tbe flames. Smouldering ruins, -twisted sheets of corrugated iron and lonesome brick chimneys still intact, fur nishpd the spectacle yesterday when all danger was averted. The heat of the tire was such

that the plate glass windows of Mr J. BNck's drapery establishment and of Mrs H. M. Clark's confectionery premise* on ihe opposite side of the road were smashed, the psint oi the woodwork of y~>o'h being greatly charted. no wind prevailed; otaer*rt'e tbe block of building* from Mr Black's down to aod including the Waiuku Hotel would undoobtedly hive been wiped ont, as also the adjoining blocks on either ride ut the hie swept area. Some auspicion is attached to the outbreak more particularly as about seven o'clock on Sunday morning a fire tn its initial stages was detected in the tesr ?t Mr Gribble's aaddlery sbop, some paper and borse-hair being found ta be alight. On that occasion the smouldering mass was got under and Mr Gribble who wa» qnickly in , attendance and alsu viaiiei the pre'mises later m the day, is coovinced that no mat rial was left whereby there was any possibility of a later con Migration. In the absence of any source of water supply other than tanks, Waiuku dees not possess anv firefighting appliancr-s, aod a 1 hough the services of a "bucket brigade" were forthcoming tbe fierceness of lb' flames rendered tbe Pockets of litth uee, and the fire simply burnt itself cut. Comment was yesterday fairly general that with modern roads now in course of provision as the outcome of a recent loan that was sanctioned a water supply installation should also have been introduced as a means of saving property against destruction by fire. Particulars of tbe whole of the insurances and losses are not yet available. Mr J. Gribble is, bowever, manifestly tbe . biggeat sufferer and he estimates bis loss at quite £IOOO over and above the amount covered by insurance. Tbe psft of the property he personally occupied was insured in the South 'British Insurance otfics fur £285, and the other pismires, of which he was the owner, for £3OO. Be bad a policy of from £BOO to £9OO with tbe same Company on his saddlery stock, but as the same waa indented aod leather gools particularly have advanced in rates by reason ot the war Mr Gribble will hardly be able to replace such holding, which waa of an extensivejcharacter. at any price. Mr A. E| King, stationer, puts his loss down at £250 and waa only insured for £SO with the South British Company. Mr G. Walding bad only recently taken over the supper-room business and lost from £SO to £6O worth ot effects. Mr Mellsop valued his premises that were destroyed at £250, or £SO in excess ot his policy of £2OO in the Standard Company, and be was also tbe owner of some £55 worth of furniture, uninsured, contained in Mr WaldKiog's supper-rooms. Mr B. Storey was fortunate enough to only lose some watches to tbe value of about £lO. Mr Bint estimates his loss in stock and furniture at about £4OO, but held some insurance ( thereon. Mr Denize's buildings were insured in the Commercial Insurance Company for £325, and Mr Hdnare Kaihauhada policy of £2OO with the same Company in respect ol bis property. Many mementos of the fire were unearthed yesterday, including Mr J. Gribbie's safe. Luckily for Mr Gribble it had stood the test well, as although the steel plates had partially become warped, the ledger and .other books it contained were found to be intact other than having been somewhat scorched. A few pounds in gold in the drawer of the safe showed no injury at all.

The alarm that a fire vm raging was given by a. boarder at Mr Welding's, but the flames at that time had obtained such a good hold that nothing could be done to stem their onslaught. Very, soon, as the result of the commotion that naturally ensued, most of the residents in the township were aroused from their beds and made their way to Queen street to act as spectators of the lurid ecene. In view of the possibility that the hotel would catch alight from flying embers tho« sleeping at that establishment ti>ok precautions to save as many of their belongings as possible, whilst similarly by reason of tbe Waiuku branch of the Hank of New Zealand beng exposed to danger by being adjacent to tbe fire zone, tbe Acting-Manager, Mr D. Corrigan, had made arrangements, in case of necessity, to hive the safes carried to a place of safety. Mr G. Walding, who is an invalid, bad only recently entered into occupation of the refreshment rooms and boarding-house, and being uninsured bis investment baa practically cost him bis "all." A subscription list for his benefit was started without delay, and some £2O was forthcoming in a few hours as some assistance for him in his current needs. Sergt. Cowan, accompanied by Contsable Thornell, arrived soon after 9 a.m. at Waiuku in to a telephonic message from Constable Fearnley, and were busily employed throughout tbe day in obtaining full particulars of tbe occurrence, but without definite result. During tbe afternoon Detective Cummings also arrived and in still pursuing investigations.