DAMAGE BY FIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 March 1922, Page 2

DAMAGE BY FIRE.

AN OUTBREAK AT PORIRUA. SEVERAL BUILDINGS DESTROYED. ( By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, March 20. A disastrous fire occurred at Porirua early on Sunday morning. It originated in a building used a a store and dwelling, occupied by Thomas Dick, and spread on both sides, causing considerable damage. Dick and his wife and child were away at the time. The alarm was given and residents turned out in large numbers. Water was obtained from a creek near by, but the fire spread to the bakehouse and tearoom on one side, and the bootmaker’s shop and dwelling on the other. The fire fighters concentrated their efforts on saving the adjoining buildings and the Porirua Hotel across the road. It was only through their efforts that the hotel and stables alongside were saved. The store and bakehouse were owned by Mrs. Benson, of Titahi Bay; Hall’s bootmaker’s shop and dwelling, all of which were totally destroyed, were owned by Mrs. Oughty; the hotel, which was badly scorched, is the property o-f the Sullivan estate. The insurance amounted to about £l5OO. The telegraph wires were burnt through and, for eight hours Wellington was cut off from Wanganui, Palmerston North and Auckland. THREE SHOPS BURNED. Gisborne, March 20. A fire at Ruatara destroyed three shops occupied by Kirk Bros., Hunter and Johnstone, the damage being over £BOOO. THE HASTINGS FIRE. Hastings, March 20. A youth named James Norman Percival Logan, 18 years of age, appeared in court this morning charged with setting fire to a building, the property of White and Co., coal merchants, one of a series of fires, and was remanded. It is understood that the perpetrator of the Station Street outbreak is also located.