FIRE AT AUCKLAND

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 56, 8 March 1919, Page 5

FIRE AT AUCKLAND

BYCROFT, LTD., AGAIN SUFFER

•PREMISES COMPLETELY.GUTTED.

(BY- TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

AUCKLAND, This Day.

A fire broke out at one o'clock this morning in the premises of Bycroft, Ltd., Flour-millers, Shortland-street, in the rear portion of the building which escaped the conflagration of 6th February, and which caused damage estimated at £15,000. The tiro this morning completely gutted the biscuit factory, and completed the ruin of the entire block from Shortland-street to Chancery-street. "The machinery and stock are totally destroyed. LATER. The night staff were at work in the basement, when shortly before one o'clock smoke was noticed. The fire had a firm grip upon both upper floors. The brigade was quickly on the spot. By a quarter past one, the fire had enveloped both upper storys at the back, and the front portion of the building which had largely been gutted by the previous outbreak. The remainder was practically unaffected. Before half past one, the flames had broken through the Toof, and were burning fitfully. There was a large volume of Gmoke and steam rolling up, with sparks freely intermingled. ' The roof fell in about 1.15 a.m., a large portion resting on the second floor, which was the only floor remaining firm. About a quarter of an hour later, the second floor collapsed. The firemen by 2 a.m. were able to quell the flames. After an inspection, the Superintend- j enfc of the brigade stated that the fire must have started near the middle of I the building and spread ont on every side. All the centre of the premises was gutted. Very large quantities of flour and biscuits were in store. Everything was destroyed. . ■= The insurances oh the premises were £48,000 in the New Zealand Insurance Company, which includes loss on both conflagrations. There was practically a total loss on this morning's fire, not yet estimated in figures.