FIRE IN QUEEN STREET.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3027, 26 October 1908, Page 5

FIRE IN QUEEN STREET.

MR J. RANKIN'S PREMISES DAMAGED.

A fire was discovered in the bakery and confectionery premises of Mr J. Rankin, at the corner of Queen and Perry streets, shortly after midnight last night. The Fire Bri gade quickly responded to a vigorous alarm on the central firebell, and on their arrival the seat of the fire was found to be a room on the Perry street side of the shop on the ground floor of the building. The accessibility of the burning portion was responsible for the brigade soon getting the flames under, the fire not getting much beyond the storeroom and a kitchen adjoining. The fire itself swept the storeroom thoroughly, destroying the contents and damaging the room considerably. The kitchen was also scorched and its contents damaged. Water and smoke caused some damage to other parts of the building. Mr Radomski, whose restaurant is situated in the second storey, a;,d his wife and child, were sleeping on the premises, and two other men employed in the business. They all had to escape (with the exception of one man who came down the stairs) via the verandah on account of the density of the smoke. The insurances were not ascertainable this morning, except that the Royal Office has a risk over Mr Kankin's stock, which has sustained practically all the damage, so far as the stock in the building is concerned. Various companies have policies on the building. The Fire Police, under Captain Dixon, mustered in good force, doing useful work. Superintendent Jenkins deserves commending for the promptness of his men in getting the fire under control, as it had a good hold before they arrived.