FOUR FIRES.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18486, 14 September 1925, Page 6

FOUR FIRES.

BRIGADE'S BUSY DAY. BUSINESS PREMISES DAMAGED. (rfiTBSS ASSOCIATION TILEGBA*.) AUCKLAND, September 13. Twjo fires occurred in Queen street yesterday afternoon, good work by the Brigade minimising damage on "each occasion. *he first fire was in the Commeroial Bank, a stono building, the outbreak starting in the retiring room at the end of tho passage on tho second floor. Iho caretaker had been engaged cleaning the bank office on the first floor, and was attracted by tho smell of smoke. Four rooms at the seat of tho outbreak were badly damaged, the retiring room being gutted, while the adjoining office of Mr Ruddock, sharenroker,. was damaged bv ,fire and water. The third floor offices were endangered, but tho brigade obtained control in time. The second outbreak was a couple ot hours later in wooden premises right opposite tho Commercial Bank. •Die fire started in tho passago outside the offices of Bennett and Jacobsen, solicitors, on tho first floor. Tho rooms adjoining the passage were dam aged by fixe and water, and 6om© goods in Hugh Wright's establishment on the ground floor were damaged by water. Tho brigade made abrilliant save, for had the tire got beyond control other wooden buildings on both sides would probably have been destroyed. A more serious fire occurred in his Majesty's Arcade, Queen street, at half-past twelve this morning. It is understood it started near lavatories adjoining tho Chess Club's rooms on the floor. The Chess Club's rooms wero completely destroyed, with their eqiupment, together with the roomn occupied by Captain Oliffe (teacher of navigation) and.Davis and Rogers, engravers. About £IOOO worth of damage was done by water to the Masonic Institute and Club, which occupies tho two lower floors. In spite of the suspicious nature of the fires there is no evidence of incendiarism, although enquiries are being made by the police. There was a fourth firo in Fort street yesterday, but it was of a trivial nature.