BLAZE IN TE KUITI

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXI, Issue 10919, 20 September 1932, Page 3

BLAZE IN TE KUITI

Five Shops Destroyed POST OFFICE THREATENED. I Te Kuiti. Sept, 19 One of the biggest fires in the history of Te Kuiti occurred shortly after nine o'clock this evening, resulting in the destruction of five shops in a wooden block of buildings on Bora Street, the main thoroughfare. The loss is estimated at about £IO,OOO. The shops were occupied by the following: Mr H. C. Evans, boot and shoe store. Luen Cheng, fruiterer and confectioner. The Te Kuiti Bargain Stores, owned by Mason and Dobson, Mr D. McCorkindale, saddler. Mr J. F. Hogan, tobacconist. The fire started in (he back portion of the premises of the Bargain Stores. It bad a strong hold when a. passer by noticed a cloud of smoko and called the fire brigade. When the brigade arrived they were confronted with an impossible task in saving the buildings. Their initial efforts were directed toward saving the adjoining Te Kuiti post office, which was in considerable danger at one stage. A Mass of Flames. Only a narrow alley-way separated the post office from the burning buildings, which soon became a mass of flames. The brigade worked several lea.ds on the post office side of the premises and on the post office. Gradually the fire was beaten back until the post office was safe. The fire was prevented from spreading in the other direction by brick premises occupied by Mr W. F. Cato, ironmonger. Confined to the wooden block, the flames swept completely through it in a little over half an , hour. Magnjflcent work was done by the brigade, under Mr J. Henderson, but at no stage was there any hope of saving the block.