FIRES.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19127, 10 October 1927, Page 11

FIRES.

RANGIOBA OUTBREAK. The Rangiora Fire Brigade respondedvto * call on Saturday morning with their new motor engine. Some young men returning from a dance at Waikuku, about 4 a.m., noticed a glare in the. windows of the Grand Billiard i Saloon, which is situated in a portion of the top of Johnson's Buildings, in High street. They raised the alarm, arid the fire, brigade was quickly on the s&ne. It was found that the outj break was in the south-east corner of the saloon and that the fire had secured >*good. hold, and the flames were shooting' through the roof\and back wall of the building. The brigade soon had two powerful jets of Water playing on the fire,.and in a very short tuiw the outbreak was under control. The billiard room, which is furnished with four tables, . is owned by Mr H. W. Whitta, of Christchurch, the local manager beinfc Mr C. Chisnall. It is reached by a stairway situated between the offices of the Rangiora branches of the Christchurch, Press Company, Ltd. and the LvtteltOn Times Company, >nd both these offices suffered through water. The billiard room and contents were considerably damaged by fire. The biggest sufferers; however, were Messrs Johnson and Sons, hardware merchants, who occupy the ground floor arid part of the top flat, the partition walls' being considerably damaged; by fire and the contents of the shop by water. It is surmised that the fire wa? caused by a lighted cigarette dropped behind one of the seats. The block of buildings is' owned by Mr' W, D. Johnson, and together with tho contents is. insured with the "New Zealand Company. The damage will probably run into four figures. i The need for protection. against fire loss is obvious. Consult the Mercantile arid. General Insurance Co., Ltd., Hereford street. . ■ —6