FIRE AT ELTHAM.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 March 1922, Page 4

FIRE AT ELTHAM.

OLD BUILDING DAMAGED. SMART WORK BY BRIGADE. On Tuesday night Eltham experienced its third outbreak of fire in two months. Shortly after 10 o’clock (says the Argus) a two-storey building on the corner of Bridge and Cornwall Streets, owned by tlie (Mr. G. W. Tayler) and occupied by Mr. W. G. Dempsey, who has carried on the business of the Eltham Tyre Repair Depot taere for over a year, was discovered to be on fire. The brigade promptly responded to the alarm, and though at first the blaze was only small, yet the inflammable nature of the contents of the building caused the flames to quickly assume large proportions, but with an excellent pressure of water they were quickly got under control, thus preventing the possible destruction of the whole block. The insurance on the building was £4OO in the Royal Office. Messrs. Gower Bros, had no insurance on their stocks, and were fortunate in escaping any evil effects of the fire. Mr. Dempsey had insurances with the Farmers’ Mutual as follow: Gas engine £25. buffing wheel £l3, vulcanising plant £325, and .stocks and tyres reparred and in process of repair, £437, a total of £BOO. This policy lapsed on Monday, and Mr. Dempsey, who was out of town, had not renewed it. The position has been placed before the company, but it is not yet known what action they will take. While the stock of tyres, etc., have been destroyed, the vulcanising plant itself does not appear to be badly damaged. The building was an old one, and it does not seem possible that it cjin agum be made any use of, and it will therefore be a total loss. \