FIRES.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18303, 10 February 1925, Page 5

FIRES.

THE WAIROA BLAZE. (PEBSS ASSOCIATION TBLJOIU1I.) "WAIROA, February 9. The owners of tho promises destroyed. in the fire at "Wairoa -were': —J. T. Tanner (dentist), O'Malley and Bcaufoy (solicitors), J. Osier (bakery, tea rooms and residence), J. P. Moore (draper), Miss MeCormack (dressmaker), K. J. Thomson: (photographer), F. Hanham (bookseller), Frango's Grand Cafe, Lim Kee (fruiterer), Dodds (outfitter), and V. Smith (jeweller).Mrs Smith's dining-rooms -were damaged, but all the others were destroyed, except the brick bakery behind Osier's. Very little was saved from any building. and heavy losses were suffered. It will cost from £25,000 to £30,000 to replace the buildings destroyed, and tho losses of stocks will amount to many thousands of pounds above the insurances. Tanner's and O'Malley and Beaufoy's buildings were owned by J. A. Nilsson, and were insured for £560 in tho Victoria Office; Moore's, Hanham's, and Thomson's buildings were owned by Constable and McGoldrick, being insured for £2750 in the South British Office. Lim Kec's shop was owned by G. Simpson, and was insured for £SOO in the Guardian Office. Thomson's stock was insured for £IOO in the Queensland Office.

ESCAPE OF A PRISONER. (PBESS ASSOCIATION TEUQBAM.) TE AWAMUTTJ, February 9. The bank clerk, Harold Keith Jones, who gained notoriety by forging and uttering cheques for his honeymoon, nnd who was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, escaped from gaol at 9.30 a.m. on Sunday after serving six weeks at Waikeria Reformatory. He was missed shortly after his escape, and a search was immediately begun and continued all night, but without result. It is not known in what direction the escapee went, but it is believed that -he is heading towards Arapuni. Ho carries a Schneider rifle and several rounds of ammunition, which he stole. At tho time of Ida escape he was dressed in dungarees, but is now supposed to be wearing a dark suit or davk coat over his dungarees. The escapee is twenty-three years of age, sft Sin high, o£ thin buiid, ar.:l dark complexion, with black hair and a smart appearance. Tho fact; of his carrying arms is causing some uneasiness.