FIRE IN CITY MARKETS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 83, 7 April 1924, Page 10

FIRE IN CITY MARKETS

DESTRUCTIVE BLAZE AT • AUCKLAND.

(II III.IORAPH.—PIUSS ASSOCIATION.)

AUCKLAND, 6th April. ■ A fire broke out in the City Markets yesterday afternoon in premises occu; pied by the Fruit Case Company, Ltd. The flames burnt fiercely and spread to the premises of J. Jones and Co., fruit and poultry auctioneers, and on the other side to the premises of Somervell and Wilson, Gloyer and Co., and RacUey's. It took some time to quell the outbreak. The flames licked their way through an aperture to the premises of J. Jones and Co., on the top story of which was stored a large quantity of maize in bags. Practically the whole of this was damaged by water and smoke, and corn dropped through on to the bottom floor. Here was stored principally hardware, which was more or less damaged. A concrete partition separated the poultry section, and a small Collection of birds and ducks was unin;v^ed.

On the top story of theßadley Buildings was stored a quantity of crass seed. The heat ignited this," as well as quantities of chaff and bales of hay. Glover and Co.'s premises had only

recently been leased from Air. A B Donald. There were 1200 sacks of wheat stored on the top floor, and this was all badly damaged. The manager of the Fruit Case Company, Ltd., slated that his stocks were well insured, as this was the fruit season, and the firm was carrying a much larger stock than usual. He estimated the insurance on the stock and machinery (which is in the Norwich Union office) at £1500. Radiey and Co.'s insurances are as follow :--Contents of coal stores, £4000; stock, between £8000 and £10,000; fixtures and fittings, £2000, all in the Phoenix office.