BIG BLAZE

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20505, 23 May 1938, Page 8

BIG BLAZE

URGE BLOCK SWEPT DAMAGE OVER £IOO,OOO THEATRE AND RADIO BTATION DESTRUCTION AT CHRISTCHURCH (By Telegraph.—Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, Monday Large city bulldlnga were almost completely destroyed by Are this morning The lots, including structural damage and destruction of stcok, is estimated to be well over £IOO,OOO. When the Are brigade arrived, shortly before 3 o’clock this morning, the flames had a tenacious grip on the studios of the National Commercial Broadcasting Service Station, which aro In a part of MacDufT’s, and the socond floor of MTcDufl’s Ltd., a building of four storeys. From there they spread to the top floor of the building, and thence to the State Theatre, which was completely destroyed. The brigade, operating five engines and ten leads of hose, found a difficult task on its hands, but managed to confine the greatest part of the damage to the parts of MacDuffs’ building nearest to Colombo Etreet. The interior of the State Theatre was too much for the fire-fighters. The flames swept straight through it, leaving a wake of ruin and desolation. The premises completely destroyed are: The 3ZB Studios. Ths top floors of Mac Duffs Ltd. The State Theatre. Water Damages Stock A concrete ceiling saved 12 shops on the Colombo Street and Gloucester Street frontages from structural damage, but thousands of gallons of water, pouring In a continuous stream down the stairs, did heavy damage to stock. The alarm was given from a street call box at 2.47 and on arrival the brigade found the 3ZB studio and floor above it in the grip of the flames. They ran their leads throught the ground floor of Mac Duffs and upstairs, fighting the fire from the back of premises on every floor. It was a fight which was still in progress when hundreds of people were watching from the streets at 9 o'clock this morning. Thsatrp s Smoking Ruin Although a concrete floor separates the broadcasting studio from the floor above it, the flames swept up through the staircase opening. It was at first thought that a concrete dividing wall would save the State Theatre, but the fire, having a firm hold on the upper floor of MacDuffs, poured out through the windows just above the iron roof of the State Theatre and the heat ignited the timber below the iron. The State building. Including the land, is valued at £60.000. Large cracks are evident in the walls and the Interior of the building above the ground floor is a smoking ruin. Flames were still flickering in the wreckage after 8 o'clock this morning. The manager of Mac Duff s Ltd. estimates the loss of stock alone In his premises at £30,000. The interior of this huiidinar. too. Is completely destroyed above the ground floor, and floods of water pouring down into the 6hop have completely ruined the stock. The windows of the shops on the State Theatre street frontage presented a sorry sight. Soggy shoes, limp frocks and coats, and sodden boxes of poods lay dejectedly in pools of water, while from Ih* ceiling more water rained down on them. Insured for £30,000 The manager of Mac Duffs Ltd., said the stock in the store was insured for £30.000 with Lloyds insurance. The actual loss on the stock would be heavier than was at first anticipated. He added that some of the stock could be saved but naturally the loss would be very substantial.

4.30 O’CLOCK EDITION