EARLY-MORNING FIRE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 41, 18 February 1927, Page 9

EARLY-MORNING FIRE.

DISASTER IN RANGATAUA.

AND TOWN WAM.

BURNED.

NO WATER AVAILABLE. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) RANGATAUA, this day. Three blocks of shops and the town hall were destroyed by fire early this morning. The lire commenced about 3.30 a.m. in Palmer's confectionery shop and had a good hold before any tiling could be saved. There was no fire brigade, and no water was" available. The first to be burned was a block of three shops, owned by Mr. M. A. Budd, and insured with the New Zealand Insurance Co. tor £000. Next followed a hi Ila rd room and Mr. G. Rousell's barber's shop, in which all tools •were lost, with 110 insurance. Then followed Scott's and Minifie's. The last to go was the town hall. No one was injured. Mr. C. G. llawken and family escaped narrowly in their night attire, Mr. T. R. Murdie also narrowly escaped, being saved by the efforts of the willing volunteer bucket brigade. The town hall piano and picture machine were saved. Mr. Hawken had an insurance of £400, and Mr. Palmer £150 on their stocks, in the New Zealand Insurance Co.; Mr. J. Scott", bootmaker, had an insurance of £100 in the State Fire Office; Mr. J. Cunningham, billiard room proprietor, £200 on the building and £100 on the tables, in the State Office. Mr. A. J. Mini tic, grocer, had his stock and furniture insured, but the amounts arc not available. The town hall and its contents were insured for £900 in the State Office.

BLAZE AT SHANNON.

THIIEE SHOPS DESTROYED. <15.v Telegraph.—Press Association.! LEVIN, this day. A large- block of three shops was destroyed by tire in Shannon early this morning. One shop was occupied by Aitcheson and Son, grocers, another by ''• t'- Young, cycle agent, and the third was vacant. The building, which, with its stocks, is a total loss, was owned Mr. H. Hook. At one time there seemed danger of the fire spreading, and tho Levin brigade was telephoned for, there being no brigade in Shannon. A detachment from Levin went 12 miles to the scene by car, and chccked the spread of the flames. The insurances are not available.