BLAZE AT WAIHI

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 564, 17 January 1929, Page 1

BLAZE AT WAIHI

STORE BADLY DAMAGED POLICE MAKE INQUIRIES (From Our Own Correspondent) WAIHI, To-day. The police are making inquiries concerning the origin of a fire which did extensive damage to the Waihi Mutual Trading Association’s store at Waihi about 1.45 this morning. The blaze began in the boot and shoe department, which was almost completely gutted. The flames then spread to the grocery department next door, where heavy damage was caused both by the fire and by water. Fears were felt at one time that the whole block of buildings would be destroyed, as the fire occurred in the centre of the town’s main business block, but luckily there was no breeze at the time and the brigade was able to confine the outbreak to the Mutual Association’s premises. The building, which was owned by Mr. W. J. Brown, of Waihi, was valued at £I,BOO, and was insured in the London. Liverpool and Globe Office for £7OO. Mr. Brown will be a heavy loser. The grocery stocks were insured in the Yorkshire Office for £I,BOO, and the boot stocks for £9OO in the same office. Damage to the combined stock is estimated at, roughly, £I,OOO. Slight damage was also caused to the premises of Mr. G. Phillips, hairdresser, and to Mr. A. H. Clark’s fancy goods store.