FIRE AT INGLEWOOD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 39, 6 July 1914, Page 4

FIRE AT INGLEWOOD.

BUSINESS BLOCK GUTTED. (From oar Own Correspondent.) Sunday Night. At about 5.35 a.m. this morning tflio fire bell rung out an alarm, the outbreak proving tf' be in a valuable block of lniiid'iigs in Maim street, owned 'by Mr. G. Curtis, and occupied by Messrs Oramur (baker), Gcddes (watchmaker), llolston (tailor), and Painter (chemtet). The buiMings -were badly damaged. In the case of Mr. Painter hie loss will be heavy, his stock being totally destroyed. The stock, etc., of the other occupants was also badly damaged,, by fire and water. Practically nothing was' removed from the buildings, the smoke being too dense. 'Pile fire was discovered by the nightwatchman, Mr. Tom Marsh, who, when passing by, noticed dense smoke issuing from the chimney, and on investigating discovered the, building to be on fire. He immediately aroused Mi. Painter, who found his escape by the staircase cut off, and had to make big eswape through the front window, and down the verandah post, clothed only in his ulceping attire. The brigade turned out •qufckly, ami soon had fivo leads playing on the buildings, but although they kept the flames from spreading, it was over two hours before the Are wag finally subdued, owing l/o the difficulty of getting at the seat of the fire. The building, which was of corrugated iron, with ruberoid roofing, presented untold difficulty to the firemen, who, arc, under the circumstances, to be congratulated on the -nay they handled the fire. At the time of writing the insurances are unknown, but it is understood that all the occupiers will be heavy lowers. The value of the wtis amply demonstrated, as, had! the fire not been discovered ?o quickly, there was even- chance of the whole 'Hex*, also the Ban's of New Zealand, being destroyed. It is interesting to note that the Bank of New Zealand is one of the few business places which docs not contribute towards toe salary of the nightwatchman.