AUCKLAND BUILDING BURNED

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25741, 1 March 1949, Page 6

AUCKLAND BUILDING BURNED

OCCUPANT ESCAPES BY LADDER (P.A.) AUCKLAND. February 28. Finding the building full of smoke and flames when he awoke early this morning, Mr R. E. Burke, who sleeps in High street, Auckland, where his firm’s premises are situated, was forced to escape by an extension ladder when the brigade arrived. His firm of jewellery manufacturers and electroplaters. Prest Art. Ltd., had some valuable equipment and precious metals destroyed by the fire. The building is owned by the Masonic Institute.

A room at the rear of the ground floor, occupied by Prest Art, was extensively damaged, and its contents almost destroyed. A room above, also occupied by Prest Art, fared little better. The premises were insured for £l2OO. A room above these two, occupied by Early Crothers, dental and surgical importers, was also damaged, and a quantity of stock was destroyed by fire and water. An office on the second floor occupied by Harriman and Lipscombe, general merchants and indent agents, was slightly damaged by water. A lending library on the ground floor, owned by Mr J. J. Lenihan, had a considerable amount of its «tock damaged by fire and water.