PANIC AVERTED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 69, 22 March 1934, Page 8

PANIC AVERTED.

DANCERS IN DANGER.

FIRE IN CITY BUILDING. ORCHESTRA'S COOLNESS. When close on 150 people were dancing on tho third lloor of the National Mutual Building, Chancery Street, last night, a fire broke out in the Dominion -beatiier lloous Company s premises, on the lloor Ueiow, ana tuo cool behaviour of tne committee ana ilie orchestra averted what might easily have been a panic. It was liie lirst dance of the season of the, Dunedin Club, a private function held in the lnterliouso Curia' Cnib rooms. Messrs. _L. S. I'iper and A. Wilson were standing by a panel of windows at the back ot the dance room, when they were startled by the crash of glass. Looking outside, they saw flames issuing from windows below, and tiiey quietly passed word, on to members of tiie committee. A telephone call was put through to the Central Eire Station, and the orchestra was instructed to keep on playing. A member of the committee then informed the dancers of. the position. He advised them not to get excited; but to leave the building as quickly as possible, and in an orderly way. Members of the committee then marshalled the dancers, and they rapidly filed down the three flights of stairs to Chancery Street, to the strains of the latest "hit" played by the Nomads Orchestra. Before tlic floor was clear smoke had penetrated to the room. Several guests, in their baste to get out of tho building, left their coats and wraps. Congregated in the street, all in evening dress, they watched the hrcmcn at work, and talked excitedly of their experience. Unanimous praise was heard on all Jiands concerning the coolness of the orchestra. The brigade was called at 11.25 p.m., and two engines were sent. A lead of 'hose had- to be taken up two flights of stairs and along a 30ft passage to the Dominion Leather Goods Company premises, which comprises practically the whole of the floor, and is divided into eight rooms. • Access was gained by breaking in a (lotible door with axes. Within'ten minutes tho fire was under control. The fire had broken out in the cuttin" room, doing considerable ■damage, and damaging or mining large quantities .of . garments which _ Were ready for the machine room. Adjoining tlic cutting room is the factory Here the plant was only slightly damaged by .water and smoke, while the goods in the gtock room suffered from smoke. The partitions between the corridor and tiie cutting room, and between the cutting room and the factory, were burned through. _ j The stock and plant were insured for £2700 with the London Assurance. The damage is considerably in excess of the insurance, according to a statement made bv a director of the Leather Goods' Company this morning. -l ho building .is constructed entirely of brick and concrete. 1

OUTBREAK TH WAREHOUSE.

— — An outbreak of among some sawdust and packing 011 the ground floor of the warehouse of Hill and Plummer, Limited, in Hobsoii Street last evening was suppressed by the City I'ire Brigade before serious damage was done. The fife ignited a large crate full of similar material, but spread no further.