DESTRUCTIVE FIRE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 83, 8 April 1941, Page 9

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE

PREMISES AT HAWERA

MOTORS AND MACHINERY

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

HAWERA. This Day

Damage conservatively estimated at £25,000 Avas caused when fire at 5 o'clock this morning gutted the Hawera branch motor and machinery departments of Newton King, Ltd. Complete destruction of the whole block of buildings, Avhich fronts lavo streets, Avas prevented by splendid work on the part of the brigade and by a dividing Avail which acted as a fire break.

Much damage was caused to the adjoining offices, showrooms, and stock rooms. The office plant and records were salvaged intact.

Smoke and water damaged premises in Union Street occupied by Osmond and Sons (cattle remedies), the showrooms and car storage department of H. H. Moller (Hawera), Ltd., and the offices of the Egmont A. and P. Association.

In addition to the heavy loss suffered by NeAvton King, Ltd.. a large number of clients lost cars stored for the night. These included the Railway / Department, which had a £1200 road service bus in the premises, and Park's White Star Service, Avhich lost a £1500 coach.

Part of the roof had already collapsed and the flames Avere roaring skywards when the brigade received the alarm. The conflagration was the largest and most destructive experienced in Hawera in the past decade.

Among the salvaged stock Avere new cars manhandled from the building on to the footpath through a collapsed showroom windoAv.