BIG WELLINGTON BLAZE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 246, 7 January 1928, Page 1

BIG WELLINGTON BLAZE

£20,000 Damage Caused By Cuba Street Conflagration

WAREHOUSE BADLY GUTTED ( Special to THE SUM.) WELLINGTON, To-day. CONSIDERABLE damage was caused late last evening by a spectacular blaze which broke out in a soft-goods warehouse and factory in premises owned by the Cooper Building Coy., Ltd., at the corner of Cuba and Vivian Streets. The total damage is estimated at about £20,000.

The fire was noticed by two men in the street shortly before eleven o’clock, both reaching the street alarm at the same time. When the brigade arrived the top floor was wall alight, the flames breaking through the window. A fire tower was erected in Cuba Street and water was poured through the windows at close quarters. Other branches were operated from the Vivian Street frontage and firemen, daringly climbing the verandah and scaling the iron fire-escape, tackled the conflagration from the windowsill, the fighters actually being licked by the flames. An entrance was also effected to the main stairway, and the outbreak was got under control in about 20 minutes, although considerable quantities of smoke continued to pour from the top floors, it being well after midnight before the firemen’s work finished. Fortunately the building is a substantial brick one, otherwise serious damage might have resulted owing to the congestion of wooden constructions in the immediate neighbourhood. The ground floor was occupied by

Mac Duff’s, Limited, ironmongers and general household providers, whose stock was considerably damaged as the water poured through the ceilings, although the brigade saved a good deal by the use of tarpaulins. The first and second floors were occupied by F. Khouri and Co., the top floor being used as work and storerooms, and the lower floor as a showroom. The stock made ready fuel for the flames, which spread with amazing rapidity through the workrooms. Mr. Khouri’s two daughters had returned after tea for the purpose of cleaning rooms, and apparently when they left the premises at half-past ten everything appeared safe. Mr. Khouri stated that the stock was probably worth £IO,OOO, apart from the Value of the fittings. The whole top floor was completely gutted and practically everything was burned on the first floor, except the showroom, which was wrecked by the force of the water. The extent of the damage by water to MacDulf’s stock Is fairly considerable. A large crowd gathered to watch the fire, which was of a very spectacular nature.