BLAZE AT PE HOE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 248, 10 January 1928, Page 1

BLAZE AT PE HOE

STORE totally destroyed TWO SAFES RESCUED WITH WIRE A.iw two took* of grain and two »«vd from the gone“mtors of Messrs- W. and C. lampoon, at Pe Hoe. which was 1.t.11v destroyed by fire at eleven i'eloei* on Sunday night. Although the safes were red-hot, linnflf wire were thrown round th«n. and they were dragged from the estimate their loss at £2,000. ° The township of Pe Hoe is 14 miles fr0 „ l ohinewai, and there was go Sater available to fight the flames. The outbreak was discovered by Mr. a Le Heron, an employee of the Thompsons. He found the place Ablate at « leven o’clock on Sunday nieht and promptly raised the alarm. The flames had such a good hold that, combined with the fact that no water supply was available, the whole -ton was soon reduced to ashes. " Messrs. Thompson’s store is the only one la the vicinity, and contained large “ a ntities of general merchandise, drapery, grain, and other commodities. The contents were insured for £I,OOO, and the building for £750, in the South British Office* The two safes were salvaged with slrands of wire after much difficulty. When they were opened later the books snd records were found to be intact, and only slightly singed by the excessive heat.