FIRE IN COOK STREET.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 48, 25 February 1914, Page 8

FIRE IN COOK STREET.

SHOP TOTALLY DESTROYED. OLD ROYAL OAK HOTEL. A fire broke out in a two-storey shop situated at the corner of Cook and Vincent Streets, at 2 o'clock this morning, and the building, an old 'wooden structure, was totally destroyed. The building was owned by .Mrs. Wilson, of Kingsland, and occupied by Mr. H. A. Merson, grocer. Mr. Merson and 'his assistant. J. Walters, were working in the office at the shop till about 10 o'clock last night. They state that when they left the doors 'were locked, and everything seemed all right. Some carpenters and painters who had 'been renovating some of the upper rooms left the premises earlier in the day. Soon after the fire was discovered, at 2 a.m., a violent explosion, thought to -have been a gas-pipe, blew out the large window frame fronting Vincent Street. The flames had a strong hold when the alarm was given, and the rows of wooden houses adjoining were endangered. 'Fortunately the brigade was oB tie spot promptly, and, although the shop could not be saved, the fire was confined to that building. Mr Walters, the assistant, who lives close ■by, made an effort to rescue some account books, trat he had to desist after receiving iburns about the face and neck. Forty-eight years ago the building was used as the Royal Oak Hotel, and until quite recently rooms in the upper storey were let in connection with a boardinghouse.