THE ELTHAM FIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 February 1922, Page 8

THE ELTHAM FIRE.

BIG GAP IN THE TOWN. HEAVY LOSSES SUSTAINED BRICK WALLS SAVE OTHER BUILDINGS. The fire, which occurred at Eltham early yesterday morning was one of the most serious experienced in Taranaki for many years past, destroying as it did the fine buildings known as “Wilkinson’s buildings.” and the heavy stocks carried by Mr. Wilkinson (hardware, etc.), and Mr. Goldstone (drapery).

The fire was discovered by the nightwatchman when ’it had a strong hold of Mr. Goldstone’s store. Several of the brigade members were quickly on the spot, but the flames were already through the doors, windows and roof of the rear of the buildings, and had also ignited the rear portion of Mr. Wilkinson’s adjoining store. A lead of water from York Street was immediately run in and an attempt made to cope with the flames from this end.

Mr. J. McKay, a member of Wilkinson’s staff, was fortunately early on the scene, and removed an explosives cabinet containing a small quantity of gelignite, from the back store.

GALE FANS THE FLAMES. A stiff northerly breeze gradually developed into a gale, and it was due to this that the fire so rapidly assumed such formidable proportions. An examination of the front of the premises at about 12.45 disclosed nothing to cause great alarm, but the pressure of water proved very poor, and within a quarter of an hour practically the whole of Mr. Goldstone’s premises were aflame. It was then seen that the two large shops were doomed, and the efforts of the fire-fighters were concentrated on the saving of the neighboring buildings. For a long time these were seriously threatened, it»not being until 3 o’clock that the danger was finally averted, while residents in York Street and that portion of London Street lying immediately south of the burning buildings were also in the danger zone.

A crowd of four or five hundred people assembled, attracted by the firebell and the glare of the flames, and had the extent -of the danger been realised a large amount of the stock from the front of the two shops might have been saved, but when the fire got a good hold its progress was so, rapid that any attempt at salvage was but of the question. A HUGE BLAZE. The drapery in the lower shop quickly burst into a furious blaze, which ran from end to end of the building in a very few minutes, and in less than an hour from the alarm being given the whole of the big building was a huge sheet of flame. V’hen the front windows went down, allowing the gale to blow freely through, the place quickly became a veritable inferno. The crash of the falling glass and timber was intermingled with the rapid reports of many hundreds of cartridges stored in the front of Mr. Wilkinson’s hardware store, while one big explosion announced the discharge of a large consignment of cartridges at the rear, which were landed only last week for the Gun Club. The flames were now licking the roof i ‘of Mr. T. Reilly's bakehouse and shop, on the west, while the windows of the E’tham branch of the Bank of New Zealand on the east broke, and the •’framework catching alight fears were entertained for the safety of both these I laces. The brick walls between the ■premises in each ease averted this danger, however, although for some time the wall next to the bank threatened to fall outwards. ‘ ASSISTANCE FROM STRATFORD. • Meanwhile the cutting off of water supplies to other parts of the town provided a better pressure, and soon after 1.30 a.m. the Stratford Fire Brigade arrived to render assistance. It was ■quite hopeless, however, to do anything to save the two big shops. The water /as kept on the adjoining buildings, and these were saved. Had they cinght it is difficult to say where the I uiflagration would have been stayed.

j COMPLETELY GUTTED. By 3 o’clock the wholP of the two o lildings were completely gutted, nothirg but the brick walls at each side and the back remaining - standing. The space inside these walls whs, however, still a mass, of flames, and for a long 7ime it was found impossible to subdue the blaze arising from a large quantity of paints which had been included in Mr. Wilkinson’s stocks. The fierce wind made the task still more difficult, and the firemen’s attention was also distracted by the necessity of paying constant attention to -the neigh/ boring buildings. The fire burned so rapidly that by 3.30 all that remained was a glowing mass of debris. This still required constant attention, and the brigadesmen remained at their post all night battling with the flames continuously breaking out under the influence of the unabating gale. The fire brigade was reinforced not only by the Stratford brigade, which arrived" with the most commendable promptitude, but also by ex-brigades-men. The cause of the fire is unknown, but an idea of the rapidity with which it developed may be obtained from the fact that when Mr. E. C. Goldstone visited liis premises, on his way home, five minutes before, midnight, there was no sign of the conflagration, which completely destroyed the two big shops within the ensuing three hours. Daylight displayed the full extent of the havoc. The big gap between the Bank and Mr. Reilly’s bakery contained nothing but a mass of smouldering debris, from which clouds of steam still arose as the watfer continued to be played on it. Mr. C. A. Wilkinson stated that he has no intention of rebuilding on the site of his old premises, but will continue his business as usual at the bulk store. In respect of the danvij"-’ ■; pip and actual loss involved, the I’- - • ■ aid to be the most extensive that has. ever-: occurred in Taranaki. Mr. C. A. Wilkinson has been in , business in Eltham for over twentyfive years, and his big store next to the Rank of New Zealand was perhaps the, best known ■ business house in the province. Its destruction leaves a ga? which will be difficult to fill. For several rears past Mr. E. C. Gold? has

the town, and his loss, too, will be felt by everyone. HEAVY LOSSES. Both) the businesses were carrying very large stocks, and will be heavy 10-'>rs. Mr. Wilkinson stated that he estimated his stocks at a value of approxi-/ mately £20,000. These are insured in the Phoenix Company for'about £BOOO and the building with the same company for Mr. Goldstone estimates the stocks he was carrying at £19,000. His insurances, which total £12.500. are as follow: —Phoenix office £6OOO, Royal £lOOO, Atlas £2OOO, Standard £lOOO, Alliance £9OO, South British £7OO. Queensland £4oo.—Elthdm Argus.