LARGE STORE DESTROYED BY FIRE

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LVII, Issue 10149, 12 August 1929, Page 3

LARGE STORE DESTROYED BY FIRE

FURTHER OUTBREAKS AT CHRISTCHURCH

INCENDIARISM 'SUSPECTED

Christchurch, Aug. 11 Fire destroyed the New Zealand Farmers - Co-operative Association’s large store at Oxford early yesterday morning It is not known how tho fire originated, but incendiarism is suspected. About 4.30 a.m. a baker, Mr H. Waterman, drove past the store on his way to work. Ho saw no signs of fire, but this is not surprising, as heavy rain was falling at the time and there are no windows in the walls. About 5 a.m., however, neighbours were awakened by the explosion of cartridges in the hardware department of the store. They went to find out the cause and discovered tho whole building ablaze. Many residents soon gathered near the scene, but the fire had got such a good hold that nothing could be done to save the building. By knocking down part of the wall in the oil and iron shed the firemen were enabled to save a store at the back of the section and some shops. Tho building destroyed was a large wooden one, with an iron roof. There were three departments in it, drapery, hardware, and grocery and crockery. The office at the back also was destroyed. It is stated that the books and documents of the branch were in the safe. A light south-west wind was blowing. If the wind had been from another quarter the public library,and Coronation Hall might have been destroyed. The stock in the building was valued at £7OOO.