COSTLY FIRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 February 1939, Page 5

COSTLY FIRE

THE AITKEN STREET BLAZE IN WELLINGTON

DAMAGE ABOUT £lOO,OOO

MANY BUILDING & DWELLINGS SUFFER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The total damage as the result of the disastrous outbreak of fire in Aitken Street yesterday morning is estimated at about £lOO,OOO. The fire was the worst which has occurred in Wellington since the disastrous markets blaze of November, 1928. Almost every available fire-fighting unit in the city was quickly concentrated on the scene. Properties affected were: — DESTROYED.

Social Security building, 200 ft long by 90ft deep. Part three-storied and part four-storied, and built entirely in wood.

Two-storied wooden dwelling, No 16 Aitken Street, owned by Mrs T. R. Murray and occupied by her and others.

Two-storied wooden dwelling, No. 14 Aitken Street, owned by the State and occupied by Misses A. M. and H. F. West. GUTTED. Two-storied brick dwelling. No 18 Aitken Street, containing four flats, owned by Mrs M. E. Button and occupied by her and others. Two-storied brick dwelling, No 20 Aitken Street, owned and occupied by his Honour Sir John Reed. EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED.

Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants’ three-storied reinforced concrete building,, next to Social Security Building, damage to windows and upper floor. Marine Engineers’ Institute, threestoried concrete building, next to Social Security building and on corner Aitken and Mulgrave Streets; side nearest seat of fire gutted. Branscombe Flats, Nos. 22 to 24 Aitken Street, a concrete block of nine apartments, owned by Mr Justice Fair and Mr C. H. Taylor, windows smashed and contents damaged by water and smoke; roof flat, occupied by caretakers, Mr and Mrs L. Tickle, gutted.

Two-storied wooden dwelling, No. Ila Mulgrave Street, owned and occupied by Mrs E. Adams; two rooms on top floor gutted and whole contents badly damaged by smoke and water.

TEMPORARY OFFICES

ERECTION IN AOTEA QUAY. IMMEDIATE START MADE. WELLINGTON, This Day. Within a few hours of the fire in Aitken Street arrangements had been made by the Government for an immediate start with the erection of temporary offices for the Social Security Department on railway land in Aotea Quay. Mechanical equipment for the levelling of the ground was taken to the site yesterday afterton in readiness to start work this morning. The actual construction will begin on Monday.

It was not possible, the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon M. J. Savage, said to rent suitable offices in Wellington, and as it was advisable to leave the former site for a permanent structure the Aotea site had been chosen. The aim was to have the temporary offices there completed by April 1, when the Social Security Act would come into operation.

The Minister of Public Works, the Hon R. Semple, said that there was nothing to show what caused the fire. The' building had been free from inflammable materials, apart from those used in construction, and everything was in good order when it was left on Wednesday night. BRICK AREA CONTRAVENTION OF BY-LAWS. OBSERVATIONS BY MAYOR OF WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON, This Day. Reference to the contravention of the Wellington city by-laws in the erection of the wooden building by the Government in Aitken Street was made yesterday by .the Mayor, Mr Hislop. “This and two other buildings, the former Base Records Office and the top storey added to the General Post office were wooden buildings built in the brick area outlined in the city bylaws,” said Mr Hislop. Last night s disastrous fire should be a lesson to be remembered for a long time to come. It affords outstanding evidence of the necessity of the bylaws and their observance by every individual and every authority, the Government included. “The area in which the fire occurred is in the inner city, to which restrictions as to building materials have applied for the last twenty or more years, and no permit would have been issued by the corporation to any individual, company or organisation for a building in other than brick, concrete, or other fire-resisting material. Unfortunately this power to refuse permits does not apply to Government structures. “In this particular building the fire danger was much greater than in a wooden building of usual design, because of the extensive use made of a sheathing impregnated with bitumen. “It is sincerely to be hoped that as one result of this fire the requirements of the city corporation will in future be observed in the interests of the whole community."

"A full and complete statement on the whole situation will be made tomorrow," said the Minister of Public Works, Mr Semple, when invited last evening to comment on the Mayors statement'.