PANMURE BLAZE.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 223, 20 September 1929, Page 8

PANMURE BLAZE.

POST OFFICE DESTROYED

THREE SHOPS BURNED.

DETECTIVES INVESTIGATING,

"NO SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES."

An old block of buildings at Panmure, consisting of two shops, a store room and garage, was totally destroyed by fire at midnight last night. One of the shops was used as a general store and post office. Detective-Sergeant Biekerdike was detailed to investigate the lire this morning. The block of buildings was of wood and corrugated iron, and was owned by Mr. Jesse B. Tanner, who was the only person on the premises when the fire broke out. One of the shops was unoccupied. The garage contained a motor car and truck. Mr. Tanner was able to get these out undamaged. Everything in the post office, shop and store was burnt to a cinder, with the exception of a few letters. So great was the heat that the contents of the post office safe were unrecognisable. The owner was awakened by the crackling of burning timber. He turned out quickly and called for help to the occupants of the next block of buildings occupied by Mrs. C. Trautvetter as a bakery. There were no other buildings in the vicinity. Panmure has no water supply and the few people who witnessed the blaze were unable to do anything. This morning all that remained of the building was a smouldering heap of coal and blackencd iron. Although Mr. Tanner owned the store he did not control the postal department, this being in charge of Miss P. Goodman, who was greatly surprised when she ai 1 ived at the scene of lier daily work to find that her duties for the moment at least were not required. Inspector Hollis, when asked, stated that there were no suspicious circumstances. He added that in all eases where Government property was concerned in fires it was the duty of the police to make full investigations. The Postal Department states that the tanmure storekeeper was able to save the letter case containing all the letters for delivery. Letters posted in the box mside the office were destroyed. There is no way of ascertaining at present 'how many letters were in the 'box.

In August of last year t'ho post office, which was then carried on in another store, under different management, was inirnt down.