FIRE IN STAMPS OFFICE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 72, 15 September 1911, Page 5

FIRE IN STAMPS OFFICE

WG GOVERNMENT BUILDING 1 JEOPARDISED. !GOOD ALARM SYSTEM. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Lust Night. [ A fire which •caused a good deal of concern broke out to-night in the Stamps Office at the back of the big Government Buildings, between Lambton Quay, and Featherston street. There was a good deal of smoke, and as this was blown by a. south-easterly wind right through the mnin buildings, the impression was that there was a fire in the big buildings. Fortunately thi« was not so. The building where the fire occurred is an annexe to the main building. Fires had been going in the fireplaces all day as usual, and it is evident that sparks escaped from the chimney and lodged between the roof and the ceiling. The outbreak was discovered just before 10 o'clock, the patent fire alarm working splendidly, indioatinu immediately throughout the whole of the buildings where the fire was located.

The fire was got under control ouiekly, though the annexe was practically (jutted. The building was used for Stamps, Death Duties, Companies and Provident Societies Resristration Departments, and for the embossing of cheone stamps. Any deeds owned by the public were locked in iron safes, and will be undamaged. There will be considerable inconvenience through the destruction of documents, but so far «s is 'known at- present it is not thought anv papers of great importance have been burned.