DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 May 1919, Page 7

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

PAET OP STRATFORD DESTROYED. GOOD WORK BY BRIGADE. (From Our Resident Reporter.) The fire which occurred at Stratford early yesterday morning was - one ot the most destructive that the town has experienced, and, not only have a large number of people suffered direct and serious loss, but are likely, in many cases, to he put to much linconvcnience, owing to the difficulty that Trill be experienced in obtaining suitable premises in which to continue their businesses. The buildings were situated in the main street and occupied a railway reserve backing on to tiie railway line, and near the Post. OSce. They were all wooden structures, and had been in existence for approximately twenty years. The present lease expires in about fourteen month?, and there is some doubt as to whether it will be renewed. Owing to the fact that the borough by-laws did not apply to buildings on a railway reserve, the safeguards against the spread of lire usually insisted upon did not exist, and the fire, once started, was very hard to check. The brigade was quick to respond to the alarm, but by the time it had got into action the fire was raging fiercely. The pressure was rather poor at flrst, but it improved rapidly, and very soon the persistent efforts of the brigade | began to tell. The brigade were at a. great disadvantage owing to the difficulty experienced in getting at the fire where it burned moat fiercely. The fire worked from the interior outwards, the walls and roof remaining almost intact, while the building was being gutted. It was only with considerable trouble and at some risk that the jets of water could be thrown where they would be most effective. It was fully an hour before the fire showed signs of subjugation, and by that time practically nothing remained of Yorke Chambers, On Kce's ii nd Mr. MeCluggage's frontages were unimpaired, but the roof was completely gone, and every shop and office, with the whole of the contents, were either destroyed or seriously damaged. The brigade continued their efforts till about 3 a,m., and renewed them again at 0 o'clock, when the ruins were still smouldering. The owner of Yorke Chambers is Mr. E. Burgess. The building is a two-storey one, and cost £I4OO to erect. It is insured in the State Office for £7OO. The building in which On Kee carried on business was insured for £SOO in the South British and £2OO in the Commercial Union, while the stock was insured for £4OO. The building occupied by Mrs. Barker, confectioner, and Mr ; Finnerty, land agent, was insured for £4OO. Mrs. Barker had her stock and fittings insured for £250 in the Atlas. The building occupied by Sheehan, hairdresser and tobacconist, and Ford, bootmaker, was owned by Dr. Paget, and was insured for £525 in the United. Other insurances are: Ford £SO on machinery and slock, E'ealey £SO on office furniture, etc., in the Commercial Union: Cook, tailor, £SO on stock and machinerv; Sheehan, stock £255, fittings £75, billiard table £7O, all in the Ocean. Other insurances brought the total up to £4OO. J. H. Ford, £SO on machinery, stock, etc., in the Ocean; Theosophical Society, £3O on organ, books, etc., in the Ocean; R. Richardson, £SOO on stock in the Queensland; R. Tvrer, £IOO in the Northern on office furniture; W. Harris, £IOO in the Commercial Union on stock and fittings. The brigade is deserving of credit for the efficiency and energy displayed.