MIDNIGHT BLAZE

Evening Star, Issue 19614, 21 July 1927, Page 6

MIDNIGHT BLAZE

DESTRUCTIVE OCTAGON FIRE RADIO SUPPLIES, LTD.. GUTTED How the lire iu Moran’s Building, the Octagon, occurred last night is a mystery. The staff of Radio Supplies, Ltd., left the premises at 6 p.m., when there were no signs of fire, and at 11.45 the Fire Brigade was called out by telephone. By that time the fire had obtained a good hold iu the basement. A smart save was made'by the brigade, out the fire was nob extinguished until much valuable stock had been IcstroyjJ. The fire apparently started in the office in the basement, which was previously the Oriental Cave and the Geisha Tea Bcon.c

It was a difficult fire or the br’gadc to attack. A sad of water was run in from the Octagon, and the second f.m gine went round to Bath sweet, where a second lead was played directly into the basement, which is on a level with the back street. With water pouring in from above and the roar, the lire was extinguished within half an hour. It had spread throughout the basement, which was used as a store. Of the stock there only two pianos in cases escaped destruction. A number of pianos, many gramophones, and numerous radio sots were completely destroyed.

The lire also spread to the Octagon floor, whore extensive damage was done to the valuable stock of gramophones, radio sets, and gramophone records. The manager of the Radio Supplies was out of town at tho time of the fire, and no definite information was available this morning of tho damage or the amount of stock carried. The radio stock was insured in the .Standard office for £l,lOO. The pianos, pianolas, gramophones, and records were owned by the Homo Recreations, Armagh street, Christchurch, tho insurances being placed in Christchurch. Radio Supplies, Ltd., were sellers of these goods on commission.

The fire was not confined to tho Radio Supplies. At the rear of the shop nnd above the basement D. Aitken has Ids tailoring warehouse, and here considerable damage was done to the,.suitings by fire, smoke, and water. His insurances are hold by the United Company. The adjoining premises of the Sewing Machine Company, controlled by fi. L. Barsdale, were affected by smoke, but the stock, which is insured for £2OO in the Sun Office, will be easily cleaned. Smoke also did slight damage in the Catholic Book Depot, whose stock was covered in the Atlas Office. On the other side of the Radio Supplies’ shop the stock carried by C. Billsborough, cleaner nnd dyer, was damaged by water. The National Office holds the insurance policy for £IOO. Practically all the stock of model frocks and ladies’ attire in the shop of Miss Rodgers was reduced in value by the smoke. The insurano« total £1.700 in the New Zealand Office. The building is owned by the Tablet Office and insured with the Atlas Company. Brigade officers stated this morning that the origin of the fire was a mystery. There was no heating of any type in the office. The office furniture was completely destroyed, and no papers dealing with the business were saved.