SATURDAY NIGHT FIRE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 216, 11 September 1911, Page 2

SATURDAY NIGHT FIRE.

OUTBREAK IN FORT-STREET. Some further details of the fire in the block of buildings in Fort-street known as Graham's and Bond, mentioned in the "Star's" 8 o'clock edition on Saturday night, are available to-day. The fire was discovered by Mr, W. Mowctt, of Books and Papers, Ltd., alter 7 p.m., and he immediately rang up the. fire brigade. The flames appeared to bo confined to the front portion of the building. Tho brigade were on the scene in an almost incredibly short time, and strong jets of water were soon attacking the flames. Large quantities of spirits were scored in eases on the floor, and tho fire hs.d a strong hold on a number of the. boxes. Given a few more seconds and the pile must have exploded, but fortunately the flames were extinguished at the crucial moment. The outbreak appears to have originated in a small office in the frbnt of the building, where a large number of papers were stored. Considerable damage was done by smoke and water to the rooms adjoining, ocupied by Atkinson and Co., manufacturers and importers. Partridge's stock stored in the building where the fire broke out was covered by insurance in the Eoyal Office to tho extent of £4500.