CITY FIRE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 123, 26 May 1932, Page 8

CITY FIRE.

FOUR SHOPS DESTROYED ALARM IN WELLINGTON. STRONG SOUTHEBXY GALE. FENCES AND ROOFS ABLAZE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. Fire which broke out in a residence in Rintoul Street just before one o'clock this morning rapidly epread in the stronc southerly gale and before the flames were subdued a block of buildings between Harvey's Lane, on the southern and Stoke Street, on the northern ' side, was completely destroyed. The outbreak is believed to have occurred in one of two houses' on the southern side of the block. In a very short space of timo flames were skyward, illuminating the whole district. The Wellington Fire Brigade was set a severe task. A block of buildings, containing four shops and residential quarters and two apartment houses alongside, was demolished and others were threatened, some being scorched and blackened, but none seriously damaged. There was a threat of fire from seas of sparks carired off and fanned by the wind, and a further danger was added by flying sheets of roofing iron which were carried skywards. The main building was two-storeyed and owned by Messrs. Lewis and Joseph. The occupiers were Mr. C. J. Burns and family, who ran a butchery shop and were not insured. Dahya Bala, an Indian fruiterer, who also lived on the premises; Mr. A. F. Turner and his wife and family,, who carried on a grocery business, and James Booth, his wife and child, proprietor of a dairy business, who had an insurance of £300 on his stock and furniture in the London and Lancashire Office. The other insurances are not available. One of the apartment houses was of ten rooms, owned and occupied by Mr. G. Bartholomew, his wife and family. The , 'house was insured for £1000 in the 1.0.A. Office. The other apartment house of eleven rooms was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. G. Morris and fryfiily, and was insured for £1200, and the contents for £300, in the Commercial Union Office.