FIRE IN HIGH STREET.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 201, 25 August 1919, Page 6

FIRE IN HIGH STREET.

WORKSHOP GUTTED. MUCH DAMAGE DONE. The City Fire Brigade received a call to a lire in the Hall of Commerce, High Street, shortly after 4 p.m. on Saturday. A good deal of damage was done, the top lloor being practically gutted. This iloor contained the workroom of -Mr. M. J. Schneideina.il, who estimates the value of the stock and fittings as between ten and twelve thousand pounds. The insurance upon it was some £4.300, with the' National Insurance Company. The Fire Brigade was on the spot with gTeat promptitude, else the whole building would have been gutted. As it is. the stock on the lower floors has been considerably damaged by water. The cause of the fire is a mystery. Some of the hands were working in.the factory till about 11 o'clock on Saturday morning, and the caretaker stated that everything was as it should be just before four o'clock. He was engaged in cleaning out the lower floor when his attention was called by the crash of glass upon the floor above. He promptly rushed upstairs and found that the fire had a strong hold. He immediately telephoned the brigade, which came almost immediately. The insurances on stock and equipment in Schneideman's factory were .t'oOOO with the National, but the actual loss is estimated at more, as the difficulties of importation compelled an extra heavy stock, of which much cannot be replaced. The Central billiard room was much damaged by water, and Mr. Chalmers, the occupier, had insured the contents for £1000 in the Yorkshire Cnited ollice. Messrs. F. Kneebone and J. D. Jones own the Hall of Commerce block, which is covered in the British Dominion and State lire offices for £13,750.