AUCKLAND BLAZE

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 450, 4 June 1937, Page 5

AUCKLAND BLAZE

WHARF SHED AFIRE Excitement On Queen Street Press Association —Copyright Auckland, June 3. Screaming sirens and 'the roar of two speeding fire engines caused excitement among crowds in the city streets? shortly after five o’clock 'tonight. Fire, which caused damage estimated at several hundreds of pounds,, had broken out in the Auckland Harbour Board’s gear locker in a shed on Queen’s wharf. Trams were stretched in two long stationary queues in Queen Street while motor vehicles all drew to the kerb to -give th e engines a clear palth. A crowd quickly gathered but the wharf gates were closed. People stood on the roadway and traffic was 'temporarily blocked. Rumour was rife and it was freely whispered that one of the large overseas ships in port w.is on fire. Smoke could 1 be seen rising against the spars of the passenger liner Monov;ai, which is completing her recommission at, the end of the quay. The fire, however, was confined to a small loft in one corner of the roof of shed No. 26, apparently starting in a locker full of old paints. The flames spread quickly andpiles of cotton waste, cork lifebelts and ropes' were all ablaze. With several leads of hose the firemen had the outbreak under control within half an hour. The- most serious damage was the charring' of a new 16-inch manila towing hawser which had not yet been used. One of the massive rope fenders which is shortly ito be fitted to the bows of one of the board’s tugs escaped the flames.