FIRE AT McLAUGHLANS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 270, 16 August 1915, Page 5

FIRE AT McLAUGHLANS.

REAR BUILDING- GUTTED. GOOD WORK BY BRIGADE. At mi early hour on Sunday morning, tiie firebell sounded th,c alarm of fire, and *' o short space of time the firemen were at the scene of the conflagraj tion, which was at the rear of Messrs. ;Me Laughton Bros.’s store. The fire was first noticed by a boarder at Reid’s Coffee Palace, and Mr. ' Sep. Reid at once sounded the alarm. When the brigade arrived it was noticed that the five was chiefly confined to the rear portion of the shop, which is used chiefly for stores. The flames were . leaping to the walls and roof, and it jvas evident that the fire had got a firm liold before it was noticed. Under . the aWe supervision of Captain Cribb, the hose was at once got to work and in a creditably short time the fire was well under control. Fortunately, the i fire was cheeked before it had increased to any great dimensions, but in the event of the discovery having been made at later stage, the probability is that the firemen would have been practically powerless to stop the spread of the fire. It was indeed remarkably fortunate that tiie fire was discovered at such an early stage, for the wind which was blowing at the time would, without doubt, have carried the flames to Dash wood '3 stationery shop next door. One of the demon, Mr. Ray Foote, j had the misfortune to fail down sov- ** oral steps, in the course of his work at the fire, and severely cut his wrist. He was attended by Dr. Barnett, and yes- | torday had to undergo an operation in order to have the wound a:-wen up. The contents of that part of the 1 building which was burnt had only I been in store for a short time, and tic i insurances will not cover the loss. The building is owned by Burrand an i Abraham, of Palmerston Worth. Both Hr Frank McLaughlan and Mr Ted. McLaughlan are high in the praise cf the work of the F!r e Brigade, ! and they consider that but for the effective work cf the men, under Capt. Crfibb, their loss would have been immeasurably,’ greater. Mrs. J. Bagltey, of the Empire Dining Rooms, very kindly provided breakfast for the firemen and workers.