BIG CITY BLAZE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 72, 26 March 1930, Page 7

BIG CITY BLAZE.

FACTORIES GUTTED. DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT £1500 FTXRNITURE AND MACHINERY burned. Damage estimated at £1500 was caused by a fire which broke out in the threestorey building owned by the Atlas Furnishing Company and R. H. Stevenson, stairbuilder, in Nikau Street, off Eden Terrace, about 5.30 this morning. Two storeys were badly gutted, and the basement part was damaged by water. The City Fire Brigade was called out at G. 24, and when the men left the station they could see a huge column of smoke in the southern When they arrived at the fire the factory was blazing front and back, ana it was thought that the flames, had been raging for at least an hour. Four leads of hose were played on to the' factory, and, after an hour's strenuous fighting, the men had the blaze under control. People who live nearby say that early this morning there was a strong smell of fire, but apparently nobody liad their suspicions aroused enough to cause them to investigate. ' It was not till the building, which is nineteen years old, was burning fiercely that the alarm was given. . . ' .' It is thought the fire broke out in the part owned by Mr. Stevenson on the second floor. Irreparable damage was done here. Up.on the .'top floor, a good deal of completed bedroom arid dining room furniture was burned, while down in the basement the worst damage was done by water. All the machinery was badly affected, and all office papers were lost.' ■ . , . Rebuilding will be necessary, but it is likely that the two concerns will shift to other premises. Mr. Stevenson had insured the building and his own property for £400 in the Australian Provincial Assurance Association office, and the. Atlas Furnishing Co. Were covered for £300 in the State Fire and Accident Insurance Co.