TWO SHOPS GUTTED

Press, Volume C, Issue 29643, 13 October 1961, Page 9

TWO SHOPS GUTTED

£25,000 Damage In Te Puke

(If J!. Press Association) TAURANGA, October 12. Two shops were destroyed and five badly damaged when fire swept pert of the main shopping centre in Te Puke early this rooming. It took the Te Puke Fire Brigade, aided by members of the Tauranga brigade, nearly one hour and a half to get the outbreak under control. Mr H. Rice, who sleeps in the Continental Cafe building, where the fire is believed to "have started, was nearly overcome by smoke and had to be helped from the blazing building by his daughter, Miss J. Rice. • Diesel oil stored in the cafe fed the blaze, hampering the efforts of the firemen •nd sending up thick black smoke. Mr lan Day, the 17-year-old son of Mr and Mrs K. Day, of Te Puke, was returning to his home at 2.45 a.m. from Hamilton when he saw a glow in the heart of the town. He promptly called out the brigade but by then the fire had a good hold. Damage has been estimated at £25,000 by detectives investigating the cause of the blaze. This is the second major fire in Te Puke this year. On April 27 five shops suffered damage estimated at £20,000 when fire swept through them early one morning.