FIRES.

Evening Star, Issue 14638, 7 August 1911, Page 5

FIRES.

TOBACCONISTS SHOP GUTTED. BRIGADE EFFECT A GOOD SAVE. A little after midnight on Saturday fire broke out in Mr Alex. Robertson's tobacconist shop, the ground Hoor of a threestoried building in George street, a few doors past Hanover street. The outbreak was first noticed by Mr J. M'Guire, a cab proprietor, who attracted the attention of Constable Fox, who was doing duty near by. The constable immediately communicated with the brigade by means of the alarm at tho corner of Hanover street. In a short space of time Captain Mitchell and his tire-fighters arrived on the* scene, and lost no time in attacking the fire, which had in a very few minutes secured a strong hold. Two leads of water were brought into use—one to. the shop and tho other to the room, overhead,, and it was not long before the flames were subdued.

There were three famdies residing on the premises—Mr Alecs. Robertson, his wife and child; his brother. Mr David Robertson, his wife and child; and Mrs Hamilton, her daughter, and her niece. The Robertson; occupied the ground and third floors, and .Airs Hamilton rented tho second flour from the Robertsons. Mr A. Robertson was the last to retire on Saturday nVrht, leaving his shop at about 11.30, when everything seemed perfectly safe. • The first notice the occupants received of their danger was from Mrs Hamilton's daughter, who was awakened by the people outside throwing something at ths> window. All the occupants were aroused, and escaped by the staircase in meagre- clothing. They had an exceedingly fortunate escape, for had the tire spread to the kitchen, the staircase—a narrow, winding one—would have been the first thing to catch, and all means of escape would have been blocked. The only thing the occupants could have done was to wait the arrival of tho brigade, and in that time a tragedy might easily have occurred.

The brigade by their smart work managed to confine the fire to the shop and tin: bedrcoi'i overhead en the second floor. The shop, with its stock and littings, is entirely wrecked, and -the same remark applies in but little smaller degree to the bedroom. Mr Robertson had an insurance of £125 in the New Zealand Insurance Company on the stock and littings of the shop, but the furniture was uninsured, and is a dead loss. Th-e- house itself was the middle one of three buildinrg owned by Mr M. T. Fvfe, who had an insurance* on the three "of £1.700 in the Standard Office. Mr Fyfe estimates the damage to the building at about £3CO. The origin of the tire remains a mystery.

A six-roomed house at Takapuna. owned by Mr Arthur Brett, and occupied by Mr James Stewart, was destroyed by* fire early this morning. Mrs Stewart ,(an invalid) and the children were removed hurriedly in their night attire. Tho house was insured, but the occupants' loss was only partly covered.