BLAZE AT TE PUKE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 2, 24 April 1939, Page 1

BLAZE AT TE PUKE

■ o IMPORTANT SHOP DESTROYED :r - EARLY MORNING OUTBREAK One of the largest conflagrations in. Te Puke's history occurred in the (1 early hours last Saturday morning , wht*n a fire of unknown origin comi. pletely destroyed the premises !- known as Pattersons Bargain Stores, - a branch of the Whakatane firm, of <♦ which Mr John Patterson is the priu--6 eipal. - The lire which occurred about 2.15 a. in, was first noticed by Mr T .A. - Baikie who was working in a neigh, bouring bakehouse and noticed tlia {lames issuing from the roof. He immediately gave the alarm and within a few minutes the Te Puke Fire Brigade was on the scene. Six lengths of hose were run. out and played on the building which in ' spite of all efforts continued to ' blaze fiercely and to threaten ad. ■ joining premises. Half an hour after the alarm it was thought that little : could be done to save the whole ' block from destruction. A largft crowd had gathered on the roadway, ; immediately in front of the blazing I building and their close proximity considerably hampered the efforts of ■ the firemen, who were devoting all, 1 their attention towards saving the premises occupied by Mr A. 11. • Washer. i Shortly after 3 a.m. the work of ttie brigade was rewarded ajid the > flames were noticeably abating.. . However col'ouds of sparks continued lo rise from the flames causing con- •; (sid'ivahle alarm to the proprietors of other shops in the vicinity until the fire was definitely under control. The brigade stood by until' daylight when nothing remained of the}' building but a blackened shell front- ! in£ .Tellicoe Street. The building v.likli occupied n site 70 x 100 feet was owned by MeClaron of Auckland. The sto.'k and fittings were . injured in the Guardian Office b : '.J": jMr Patt;>reon er-.timates h;s loss to j < SAI ; E iWLED I : . l i . SUM OF 3TG~ e-evealed ilie fact teed tee- saiewhicii ; cateieud <1120 v.d- V;- 'ached ; e-/enii'g i>. Tore iiad i-e n j open a'id riHcd. It is i>re"i.nied thc.t ; the -chief or t]';ic vts in th( in e!Vor!r. j to open the s;fo set fire to the build, ing or deiib.-rnt-'h- s:• i fsre to it i'ol- i lowing the ireaklng f>i\-n of tlie safe. • C-'rom markings on t'ie safe it seems 1 obvious that it wa% Ij'ov.-n oi)o;i which Avould assist the theory as to t the origin of the fire. ! The matter is now in the hands of the po'iee who are making investigations.