FIRE IN DAIRY STORE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 150, 7 April 1930, Page 6

FIRE IN DAIRY STORE.

PLANT IN DUNEDIN. PRODUCE NOT DAMAGED. (Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, This Day. A fire occurred at midnight on Saturday in premises of the Otago Dairy Products Cool Storage Company. When' the brigade arrived the flames were breaking through the roof, j The firemen were greatly handicapped by fumes of ammonia. The engine room, containing the refrigerating plant, was completely gutted, but the - produce in the storage chambors was not damaged. The damage was largelv structural. The building was insured for £19,000 in. the State Fire Office, and it is understood that the contents are insured for about £IOO,OOO.

DISASTROUS FIRE AT GORE.

■LARGE BUSINESS BUILDING

GORE, This Day

A disastrous fire that broke out at 5 o’clock yesterday morning destroyed a large building in Main Street, owned by Mr G. C. Hamilton (jeweller). The occupiers were: George Brown (billiard saloon), Steel Bros, (grocers), Grants, Ltd. (chemists), Charles Steans (tobacconist) and Maurice Howe (hairdresser). The fire started in the billiard saloon upstairs* which was a roaring furnace before the brigade arrived. It evidently started long before its discovery. A strong easterly wind fanned the flames, and the firemen faced a difficult and dangerous task in negotiating the glass roof of the building. The water pressure was at first low, but was strengthened by cutting off supplies to other parts of the town. The danger was increased by the billiard tables falling through the floor to the shops below. A great save Was effected by 11 a.m., the only other damage being to the lounge of the Cosy Tea Rooms, where the ceiling was partly destroyed, and further damage by water.

The fire revived in Steel Bros.’ shop aarly this morning, but was quickly subdued.

Great hardship falls on the tradesmen concerned, as there are no vacant premises in town, and all the builders are already fully employed. Mr Steans has now suffered loss by four fifes and, two floods during his business career.

The insurances are as follow: Building, £4OOO in the Guardian; Steans’ stock £BOO in the New Zealand office; Howe, £45 in the Manchester office; Steel Bro., £2500 in the Queensland and Royal offices; Grant’s and Brown’s insurances are not available.

Very little was saved owing to the extreme heat and the fall of heavy furnishings and glass.