EXTENSIVE DAMAGE

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 129, 27 November 1935, Page 10

EXTENSIVE DAMAGE

EIEE AT AUCKLAND

THEATRE ENDANGERED

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, November 26.

A fire which broke out this afternoon in a large wooden two-storeyed block of shops adjoining the Empress Theatre in Newton caused considerable damage to portion of the block and to a minor extent to part of the theatre itself. Fanned by a high wind the flames spread rapidly from rooms above a confectionery shop next to the theatre to the back of the building and round to the front of the theatre. The rooms above the shop were completely gutted, but two brigades, one from 'the central station and one from the western district station, soon had the fire under control.

The actual interior of the theatre suffered no damage apart from slight discolouration of the walls by smoke. However, minor damage was done to the facings and to the women's cloakroom upstairs.

The wooden building in which the fire started is owned by Mr. Wenzl Scholium, and the confectioner's shop which suffered most damage was occupied by Mrs. Anstiss, who lost a quantity of stock through smoke and water. The adjoining shop in the wooden building, occupied by Mr. C. Reilly, hairdresser .and tobacconist, escaped damage, although water penetrated from above. At the back of'l this shop and above it rooms occupied by Mrs. C. Anderson were damaged chiefly by smoke and water. Flames burst through a wall of one of the rooms.

The caretaker of the theatre, Mr. G. H. Dance, who was cleaning out at the time, was almost overcome Dy the great volume of smoke which suddenly swept down on him, and after falling to his knees was just able to stagger out of the building.