THE TIMARU BLAZE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 64, 10 April 1909, Page 2

THE TIMARU BLAZE

By Teiegriph.—Press Association. Timaru, Thursday J>iglit. A (ire broke out at. the Canterbury Farmers' Store at 11.20 o'clock Inst night. The llaints had a \#r,v tstroji•; hold wliou the alarm was raised, a »reat volume of Haines bursting from the roof above a tailoring department as tlie brigade arrived. It ivas apparent at tlie nul-.'t that nothing t'Oulil control the lire ; t,lio efforts oi tlie brigade were consequently directed chiefly to cheeking the ; n--.it the front to prevent their npr.-r ! "t l» two iarg.' hotels oil the opposite side o.' Ihe street, which was only lialf a chain wide.

The tire reached its height a quarter of an hour after the alarm wiw veil, by which time the whole of the north half was converted into a seething furnace. while the remainder was burning? | fiercely. | UiTpe .portions of the exterior wall* collapsed ut interval":, hut no damage was done hy the falilin«j bricks. The ' safety of the Customs IIons<», the nearest building Oil the northern side, \va* *ecured by 41 wide «ra'p. Jty "1 o'clock tin* practically burnt itself out. though Ntneks of good* were still ldazinjr I his morning. in spite of tire- water which wa- j>onred in throughout the night. Little now ivmains but the bare walls. Milliner* were engaged hi the building at 0 o'clock, and the watchman. .who locked up after thev luul left,left evrrvtiring s-.'cum Pasx'rs-bv. live minutes before the alarm was given. did not see any- lire. The insurance on the huihli.pj;. which is the properly of the association, are : Alliance Cl.VtllO. lioyal Xew Zealand CV>OO. Karmors' Co-O:pi'raiivo £2500, Kort'lwra £I7OO. On the furniture and fixtures: New Zealand CISOO —a total of .C 33,075. The association proposes to re-com-mence business immediateily, utilising a temporary ofl'iee nsvd hv the stall' cilice the last lire in Vebrnary. 100 S.