STOREROOM GUTTED

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 52, 25 November 1930, Page 10

STOREROOM GUTTED

Nearby Premises Menaced CONFLAGRATION AVOIDED Dominion Special Service. Masterton, November 24. A fire gutted a two-storyed storeroom owned by the Scoullar Coy., in Queen Street, Masterton, to-night, and only prompt work by the brigade prevented business premises in the heart of the town being involved. The building stood about 20 yards at the rear of Scoullar’s showroom, in the form of a quadrangle, made by the premises of W. G. Perry, music dealer, and Wagg’s second-hand car depot on the one side, and H. W. Thompson’s furniture warehouse, and premises recently occupied by Ingley and Morris, motor dealers, on the other. The fire was within a stone’s throw of the fire brigade station, and it was Superintendent Robb who first saw the flames bursting from the building, shortly after 8.30 p.m. Fortunately Mr. W. G. Perry was on his premises, and was able to assist the brigade in bringing a lead right to the seat of the outbreak by pointing out a disused doorway at the rear of the premises, which extend some distance back from the road. A lead of hose was run through this building, in which were stored a dozen second-hand cars, right to the heart of the fire. Only a few feet separated the burning building from these premises, and had not the action been taken so promptly, the brigade would have found itself faced with a far more formidable task than it did. After half an hour’s work the flames were tinder control, but the building was completely gutted, and its contents. furniture and upholstery, were destroyed. The cause of the outbreak is unknown. Mr. Wilbur Davies, of Wellington, the newly-appointed manager of Scoullar’s branch at this centre, only arrived in Masterton to-day to take up his new position.