FIRES

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 61, 12 July 1915, Page 7

FIRES

AN AUCKLAND GLAZE. GREAT DAMAGE DONE. Per Pjtitss (Association. Auckland, .July 11. I Damage approximating £12,000 was done by a fire which broke out early on Saturday evening in the triangular block of buildings near the Town Hall, between Lome. Rutland, and Wellesjley Streets. The fire originated in -the three-storey furniture factory in Lome Street occupied by the Tonson Carlick Company, and had a very 'good hold before the brigade arrived.

Soon after the firemen began to pour water into the mass of flame the water main in the vicinity burst, and the water pressure decreased to such an extent that the hose could not throw it much beyond the second storey. It is thought probable that this allowed the fire to spread more rapidly, via the adjoining hack premises, to Plummer Brothers’ three-storey hat factory. in Rutland Street. The firemen attacked- it here again, and succeeded in confining it to the top s'torey, though the stock and plant in the lower flats were damaged hy water. The firemen also extinguished the fire

as it was getting a hold on the hack of one of the Technical School buildings adjoining the hat factory.

Then, however, the flames were found fo have spread in the opposite direction to a large three-storey building next to tiie furniture factory in •Lome Street, and had secured a strong hold in the second storey, used as an adjunct to Plummer Bros.’ hat [factory. Chemicals and oils were apparently stored here, for the fire burned with great intensity, but the fireiiueu nevertheless saved a large motor jgaiage on the ground floor, owned by G. W, Spragg. The last of about '£10,001) worth of private cars had been removed only a few minutes before the fire broke out. The third floor was I unoccupied.

| Meantime the inmates of the Salvation Army’s People’s Palace and the iY.W.C.A., in Wellesley Street, the [hacks of whose premises ran into the | middle of the affected block, were making a hurried exit with their goods anad chattels, and a willing crowd bejgan to carry out; the furniture. The [back windows of these premises were [broken by the beat, but by this time the lire was under control, and did I not spread further, j The fire was a magnificent spectacle, the flames shooting high and masses of gigantic buildings and Altbort Park by a fairly strong w ind. Huge crowds collected. The fire bin tied for about an hour and a half. Its origin is unknown. Insurances are :—Tonson and Garlick(offices unknown, machinery b’SJOO, [buildings £5600. Plummer Bros.’ ißutland Street plant, in the Guardian 'Office for £51)50, in the Commercial Union £l5O, in the Liverpool, London' and Globe for £lO,‘ 10. The plant in the Lome Street premises w«s insured in the Liverpool, London and Globe Office for £1250. Plummer’s premises in Rutland Street are owned by the estate of late W. Crowther, and v ere insured for £IOOO in the South British Office. The promises in Lome Stieet similarly owned were insured for £2500 in the South British. Mr Spragg had £IOOO insurance in the South British Office, on his stock, which was practically undamaged.