SHOPS BURNT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 22, 26 January 1935, Page 9

SHOPS BURNT.

CAMBRIDGE LOSS. I

FORENOON BLAZE. } f TWO PREMISES DESTROYED, j i OTHERS DAMAGED BY WATER J — (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) J; CAMBRIDGE, this day. 1 Not since seven shops were wiped |; out in Duke Street about 10 years ago | has such a disastrous lire occurred in |' the business part of the town as that I which broke out this morning, resulting » in the complete destruction, together f with the whole of the contents, of the large wooden premises of T. I". Kieliards and Co., general provision merchants, | and the shop occupied by Mrs. Litcli- | wark, radio dealer. Much damage was done bv water in the adjoining premises of Mr. T. 11. | Boyce, general merchant, and Mrs. Ray, | milliner and fancy goods dealer. The block is in Victoria Street, hclow 1 the Bank of New South Wales. The lire first commenced in the back | of Richards and Company, and it had a I good hold when discovered. By the time ] the brigade arrived flames were sweep- | ing through Richards' premises. They si enveloped Mrs. Litchwark's shop, which | receive more serious injuries is pro- * formed part of the building.

The brigade concentrated on saving the adjoining wooden premises of T. H. Boyce, in which Mrs. Kay's shop is situated. In fighting the lire the brigade was assisted by a southerly breeze, otherwise five shops, which are among the oldest buildings in the town, would most surely have been wiped out. Smoking Mass of Ruins. After three-quarters of an hour nothing remained of Richards and Company's or Mrs. Litchvvark's shops, which were a smoking mass of ruins. The brigade . were successful in pseven ting the flames from sweeping through into Boyce's premises apart from a small portion of the roqf and one wall. However, damage was done to Boyce's premises to the extent of £500 by water, and damage to the extent of £50 was done to Mrs, Bay's shop. Richards Buildings, formerly the Cambridge Town Hall, was a large wooden building about 40 years old, and it had been occupied by the firm for 20 years. The premises occupied by Mr. T. H. Boyce and Mrs. Ray were owned by Mr. C. Boyce, senior, and also date back to the early days of Cambridge. Details of Insurances. Insurances are as follow: Richards and Company, stock valued at £1300, insured for £1000; plant and fittings, insured for £700; building insured for £1000, the policies being in the New Zealand Mercantile General Ollicc; Mrs. Litchwark's stock arid fittings, valued at £750, insured for £250 in the New Zealand Mercantile General Office; Mr. T. H. Boyce's shop, damage by water about £500, insured for £950 (stock).