DISASTROUS FIRE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 277, 18 July 1932, Page 3

DISASTROUS FIRE

(Press Assn.-

auckland outbreak EARLY MORNING BLAZE CAUSES ENORMOUS LOSS GLARE VISIBLE FOR MILES At 2 a.m. yesterday; one of the most disastrous fires of recent years broke out in Auckland, Messrs Winstone's three-storeyed brick building was completely destroyed and with it valuable stocks of kauri gum and building material. The terrific glare was visible for miles around " and attracted a big crowd of siglvt"*" seers. The fire burned fiercely until 4 o'clock and left only charred and smouldering remains. " Z

— By Telegraph — Copyright)

•AUCKLAND, Sunday. The roar and crackling awdkened residents for miles around, and the glare became visible £in distant suburbs as the three-storied brick structure of Messrs Winstone, Limited, in Market Place early this morning was destroyed, etogether with stocks of kauri gum and building material. The building and contents were almost completely destroyed, the loss being estimated at between £60,000 and £70,000. The fire was discov.ered shortly after 2 a.m. and burned fiercely for over two hours. By day light th'e building had been reduced to smouldering charred remains. The cause of the fire is not known, but the opinion is expressed by Superintendent Wilson of the Auckland, Fire Brigade, that it broke out in the top storey in the eentre of the building among! the stocks of kauri gum. The outbreak was first seen by the master of a steamer at a nearby wharf . Tremendous Task Three fire engines and 30 men undertook the task of quelling the outbreak, and water poured on the flahies from half a dozen leads. An attempt was made to fight the fire from inside the building, but owing to the intense heat and the danger of the upper floors collapsing, Superintendent Wilsson withdrew the men and fenewed the task from the outside. It was 4 a.m. before tfie fire w;as under control. In addition to the space occupied by Messrs Winstone, Limited, the building was used by a number of tenants. The top floor was used to store kauri gum by th'e Kauri Gum Control Board. Although it was recently announced that the board would be discontinued, continuation has not yet been resumed by the .Government. The chairman, Mr. M. R. Wynyard said that the gum held in the store wai fully covered by insurance, but in the absence of stock sheets, it was impossible to say how much gum was stored there. Th'ese pap'ers were in a safe in the destroyed- building, but duplicate copies are in existence. One estimate was that the board had between 300 and 400 tons of gum stored in the building. The middle floor was occupied by J. Raos, gum broker, who stated his stock was 500 to 600 tons, valued from £30,000 to £35,000. This gum was insured for £20,000 ' with Lloyds. Messrs Winstone Limited occupied the greater part of the ground floor, and their stock included cement, lime, wall boards and .other building material. The building, which' is considered to be a total loss was valued at £10,000 and insured in the London and Lancascliire Insurance Office for £4000 and the stock is covered by a policy for £6000 also with the London and Lancashire. This does not nearly eover the loss. One corner of the ground floor was occupied by Sanfords Limited, and used as a fish market, but the loss is not likely to he heavy. Other p-ortions of the ground floor were occupied jointly by a number of carrying firms, and used as a reeeiving depot, These firms are G. A. Newton, of Howick, and the following North Shore earriers, Gordon Bros., C. P. Roper, A. Holder, W. Edmonds, Verran and Sons and A. Christie. Only one of these firms as far as is known had goods stored in the building, and they comprised a quantity of personal luggage.

Two sailing vessels owned by Messrs Winstone, had a narrow escape, lying at a private wharf at the rear of the building. One of them the aux'iliary scoxv, Hare, had delivered her cargo of 150 tons of Portland cement at the store on Saturday afternoon, and the scow Hero was also moored nearby. These vessels were in a dangerous position from the commehcement of th'e fire. The master of the firm's tow- ' ing launeh returned from the ship after the fire had started, and seeing th'e danger quickly cast the mooring lines off and towted both vessels to a place of safety. The store was built in 1915 and was. consfcructed especially to carry heavy loads on the various floors.