SERIOUS DAMAGE BY FIRE

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 55, 29 November 1923, Page 6

SERIOUS DAMAGE BY FIRE

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Br Telegraph.— Press Association.

Christchurch, November 28.

One of the most serious fires experienced .in Christchurch for some time broke out in the top story of Mason, Struthers ironmongery warehouse to-night. The outbreak was first discovered about 6.45 p.in., when volumes of smoke were observed to bo pouring out of the roof and northern windows of the top story of the warehouse building which faces Lichfield Street and extends through to a right-of-way running parallel with Team Street. Ihe alarm was given, and the City, Sydenham, and Christchurch Railway Fire Brigades wore quickly on the spot. The fire was at first confined to the top story of Mason, Struthers’ buildings, in which were stored a large quantity of hardware, etc., but it eventually went to the south-eastern corner of the Lichfield Chambers, a comparatively new building facing Lichfield Street and owned by L. D. Budd. By 8.20 p.in. the outbreak was under control on the south side of Mason Struthers’ building, but the northern side of the top story was still blazing fiercely. By 8.40 p.m. the fire in the back part of the Lichfield Chambers had been controlled, and an hour later no blaze was visible from the outside of Mason, Struthers’ building. It is believed, however, that the top portion of Mason Struthers’ building, which was completely gutted, will smoulder until the morning. On the floors below the top story in Mason, Struthers, practically all the stock was badly damaged by smoke and water, and the same applies to the portion of Lichfield Chambers affected by the fire. As far as can be ascertained tonight, the total insurances on the stock of Mason, Struthers is £59,000, and on the building £39,000 (both with the London and Lancashire Office). The Lichfield Chambers, of which only the south-west portion was affected, are insured in the Standard Office for £lO,OOO. Several firms had offices, showrooms, etc., in this building. Those whoso stocks were damaged by smoke and water were: —Butterworth and Co., millinery workrooms; Paterson and Eade, furriers (insurance, £l5OO in the Standard Office and £2OOO in the 1.0. A.) ; R. A. Tapper and Co., exporter (insurance, £2OOO in the Royal Exchange Office). Triggs and Denton, glove makers, and A. A. Weston, importer, whose offices wore at the rear of tho Lichfield Chambers premises, were only slightly affected.