FIRE AT HAWERA.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 July 1918, Page 5

FIRE AT HAWERA.

TOUR SHOPS DESTROYED. !Ai«£«sw.. minutes o'clock yesfewk" day morning a Are was -dSscovarai a| the back of the premises of Messrs-Xaifl (chemist) and Taylor (draper), in Bjjgtf street, Hawera, which adjoda (saya.4bs Star). The alarm was given, and ittcaj few minutes the Hire Brigade motortender arrived on the scene. The fire had a strong hold, and'the buildingßtbeing old, it spread rapidly, despite* the {act- that a splendid pressure of water was available.

A large crowd gathered, and aa the flames devoured the chemicals jn MrTail's shop the~flames presented Hiapy, vivid colors. Mr. Taylor's shop •Was quickly destroyed, and the flames secured a hold of Mr. Catnin's confectionary shop and the top storey, which was 1 used as a. Red Cross depot. The fire Mazed? withamazingrapidity* and within half an hour Mr. Oatran's •iehop, and Messrs Tait's and Taylor's 'premises were gone. However, the. brigade, under Superintendent doing splendid work, and the-'three-s»w- ---' erful leads of water began to take effect. The fire burnt out tha-top-jsiarey-ofrthe building, but the greater part of Mr. Catran's (totecconisfs) shbpwwaS'davedjj though severely damaged. (By 8.46 it was-clear that, thefire wad well under control. The brigadetih&rt had no easy tasfc, for the.traildiirgS' adjoined, and there was difficulty in getting at the flames in the heart-of the block. Once the water could be&rougW: to bear upon the furnace,a>few minutes sufficed to render it comparafisely harmless. Luckily, there was, practically no wind at the time-

The buildings all' Ibelongpct toHha- Sut - ton estate. There was anSinsnHtnc&'of £IOOO upon the premises, the rldr bes ing held by the Standard Company. The occupiers of the buildings were Messrs Tait, Taylor, Catran, Clirystall,, and the Red Cross Depot of three rooms. Mr. Tait had his stock and fittings insured for £6OO with the Norwich Union, tart his loss far exceeds that figure. Mr. Taylor's .stock was insured for £I7OQ in the Phoenix; Mr. Catron's for [£345 jri the. Standard office. His insurant will not nearly loss -of stock and fittings. The Red Gross Depot--was insured for £6O in the Phoenix- Mr. Chrystall's insurance is not available. The Red Cross suffered heavy loss, seven sewing machines, crockery, and goods of various kinds being tobffly destroyed In addition, a large owe, representing mapy weeks' wotrjf, wMeh was to have been sent ft Tray shortly, has been-devoured by the flames. The three rooms used aa a Red Cross Depot were kindly lent by the Sutton estate for the duration of the war. The incurance cannot nearly cover" the hours and ioursi of time which the worfer3 have-pxit in for those at the front. '