FIRES

Evening Star, Issue 18541, 25 January 1924, Page 1

FIRES

OUTHOUSE GUTTED. A fire occurred shortly after 11 o’clock last evening in a store room and motor shed (all one building) at the back of a bouse owned by Mr P. M'Carthy, situated at the corner of Sehvyn street and Clayton avenue. North-east Valley. Some difficulty was experienced by the firemen in locating the firo plug, and consequently tho work was delayed. A steady stream of water was, however, available when thovqfiug was located. On account of the high wind blowing at the time it was essential ' to first prevent tho spreading of tho flames, as other buildings were adjacent, and the house only a few feet away. The store room and motor shed both blazed fiercely, and for half an hour the firemen were kept busy. Air M'Carthy is at present out of town. A quantity of drapery, etc., was in the building, which was gutted. A fence was also destroyed. Fortunately tho delivery motor used by Mr M'Carthy, who is a draper, was not in the shed. The stock in tho building was insured for £SOO, the house (damagecl to tho extent of about £3O) for £275, and the destroyed building itself for £25. All three policies are with the Phoenix Insurance Company. A GOOD SAVE. [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, January 24. Five broke out in Messrs J. B. M'Ewen and Co.’s two-story building in Fort street this evening. Though tho flames were leaping high through the skylight when the brigade arrived, a "ood save was effected in five minutes. Extensive damage was done to the top story. Tho woodwork and flooring were burned, and tho machinery and stock were damaged. Messrs Carr and Pountncy’s stock of cocksfoot and clover in an adjoining building was damaged by water. No details of the losses or insurances are available. MASTERTON BLAZE. [Per United Press Association.] MASTERTON, January 24. A firo was discovered in the heart of the town about 10 o’clock to-night, and when the alarm was given it looked as though there was little hope of saving the building, which was the property of Mrs A. Andrews, of Mount. Albert, Auckland. A theatre crowd was in the street at the time, and how the blaze was not noticed before is a mystery. A night watchman doing the rounds of tho back doors observed the outbreak, which then had a good hold in a wooden building divided into two shops, occupied by Alex. White (tobacconist) and Henry Hadley (bootmaker). It is surmised that the firo started in the rear portion of the latter’s shop, and quickly spread. When the brigade arrived the flames were shooting to a tremendous height through the roof, but by careful handling it was soon in control. Mr Hadley’s place was gutted, and the stuck destroyed, while the ceiling of Mr White’s premises was burned, and the stock partly damaged by water. Ihe building was insured for £I,OOO. Mr White’s stock was covered by insurance. Tho particulars of Mr Hadley’s place are unknown. A building on the. same site was gutted twenty years agh,. when occupied by Hannah’s boot depot.