BRIGADE HAS A BUSY NIGHT

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 81, 30 December 1929, Page 10

BRIGADE HAS A BUSY NIGHT

CALLED TO THREE FIRES HOUSE DESTROYED AT KARORI The Fire Brigade had a busy time on Saturday night working on three fires, which kept the men engaged almost till dawn. The first call was received at 7.50 p.m., to an old wooden building, -of eight rooms, at the rear of the New Zealander Hotel, known as 32 Old Customhouse Street. The premises were owned ‘by Messrs. Bethune and Hunter and used as a general merchandise and stock agent’s establishment. One room and contents were damaged by fire, and the remainder were slightly affected by smoke and water. At 10.58 p.m., a second call was received to 4 Jessie Street, where a twostoried wooden dwelling of seven rooms was found to be well alight. Although the fire had gained a very strong hold, a splendid save was effected. When the flames were extinguished it was foum. that five rooms had been damaged by lire and water, and the other two by heat, smoke and water. The premises were occupied by Mr. Robert Samuel Good and used as an apartment house, and were owned by the Smith Estate c/o. the Public Trustee.

A brick wall kept the fire from spreading to other dwellings, which extend the length of the street, only a few feet away from each other. The last call was received at 2-10 a.m., when' a ten-roomed house in Ponsonby Road, Karori, was found to be burning fiercely. When the alarm was given, the house had been ablaze for some considerable time. When the brigade arrived on the scene it was at once realised that there would be no hope of saving the building, which was burned to the ground. The building. which was unoccupied, was owned by Mr. S. G. Cole, residing at 84 Wallace Street.

No insurances on any of the above buildings were available last night.