FIRE AT HAWERA.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 November 1917, Page 2

FIRE AT HAWERA.

FURNITURE SHOP DAMAGED. Shortly before nine o'clock on Wednesday evening a Are broke out in' the timber room of Mr. P. M. Pratt's furniture shop in Princes street. The tire was first discovered by Messrs Mahoney and Tombs, post ollice officials, as they were going off duty. It was then too late to re-open the ofßtc.. so they got the alarm to the fire station from the Commercial Hotel. Simultaneously, Mr. A. Foy, taxi car proprietor, also noticed the flames, and he went to the station and rang the fireball. The brigade were quickly upon the spot, and by this time the room was a roaring furnace, ..ml as a high southerly wind was blowing, it looked as if the whole shop and adjacent buildings were doomed. The brigade got a lead on to the flames without delay, and, as the fire seemc. to bo working along through the- main factory to tlm shop, another lead was taken through the main c trance . The brigade were thus able to cheek, the further progress <\ the (ire, which had reached the corner of the office, which is situated in the centre of the building. Within three-quarters of r.r. hour the fire was ruder control, and the brigade were dismissed a little after ten o'clock The outbreak was confined to the timber room, where a quantity of material was burned .ind damaged. Curiously enough, the upiMstering -oom, which is quite .close to the timber shed, was not touched'either by lire or water. The stock in the front shop and lin the main factory was slightly damaged by water and smoke. The actual extent of the whole damage has not yet been estifnated, but It is considered to be extensive. The building, which is a borough lease, is insured in the Guardian Office for ,0400 and the stock in the Commercial Union for ' ;01500.

Superintendent Pettett and his brigade are to be oniratulated upon their excellent work in ejecting such a splendid "save" in the face of the heavy wind and .h? difficulty of getting at the outbreak, which occurred in a rery awkward part of the huildiw.

The cause of the fire is a mystery. When the proprietor left the ?hop in the evening everything was then apnnrentlv quite safe.

Further investigation shows that the stock in the front shop is practically undamaged.

Mr. Pratt has contributed a cheque <>! £lO to tile funds of the Brigade as a recognition of their valuablo Star,