Fire at Te Aroha.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVI, Issue 43067, 12 March 1907, Page 2

Fire at Te Aroha.

BERGHOFER’S STORE GUTTED. Shortly before two o’clock on Sunday morning, an alarm was given on the Kenrick-street firebell, when it was discovered that Mr, 0. W. Berghofer’sbakery and store at the corner of Whitaker-street and Bridge-street was ablaze. The adjoining building, Devonshire -Boardinghouse, is only separated from Mr. Berghofer’s by a space of three or four feet, and Miss Collins, the proprietress was the first to notice the fire, and when that lady raised the alarm, one of the gentlemen who were staying at the house, at once proceeded to Kenrick-street and rang a sustained alarm upon the hell. There appears to have been just sufficient breeze in a southerly direction to have prevented the alarm being heard by anyone at the

north end of the town who was asleep, and owing to this fact, several firemen failed to put in an appearance at the conflagration. But an even more-unlucky happening was the fact that a picked team of six of the members of the Fire Brigade are at present' on their way to Christchurch for the fire brigade corh petition, whilst two other members are away on a private holiday. Thus jit happened that only four firemen were in attendance at the outbreak, and although there were many willing out siderS who volunteered assistance, the amount of work and responsibility resting mpen the Brigade was heavy, and it is greatly to their credit that the flames were prevented from crossing the narrow space to the adjacent boardinghouse. As may be easily imagiued, consternation was general amongst the inmates of Devonshire House when the close proximity of the flames made the air unbearably hot, and tongues of fire began [to hungrily dart near the corners of the roof, but although a move was made to get personal goods out of the house, thanks to the efficient water supply In the hands of the Brigade, such precaution ultimately proved to be unnecessary. . _ ~ _ J When the Brigade arrived, the fiaifies had obtained a considerable hold upjon the building, and owing to the absence of any system of indicating the position of hydrants, some valuable moments were lost in locating one. When the hose was got to work, its effects w<?re both rapid and complete wherever it vfas directed, the flames being attacked from two different directions, and confined chiefly to the bakery and to the storeroom at the back where the fire appears to have originated. ! The' four firemen present were Messrs Geo Bygrave, who as ex-captain, was most useful in place of Captain Crickett; J. Drawbridge, J. McGiven and jD. Toomey. i , Although the flames were not allowed to penetrate very far into the front shop, the extensive stock is all damaged by smoke and water. ! That there was only a light breeze blowing during the progress of the. fire is attributed to the luck which has similarly attended previous fires in Te Aroha. The fact that the baker’s oven, constructed of brick, was between the seat of the conflagration and Devonshire House, was the chief means of the latter being saved. The building belongs to Mr McWatters, of Paeroa, ana was insured in the Royal Company for £IOO. The 3tock. which Mr Berghofer values at £I.OOO, was in- 1 sured in the Victoria office for £650. ■As Mr Berghofer had no safe, at the shop he made a practice of taking the most important account books home every night, and thus the ledger wa» saved, from destruction-