BAKEHOUSE BURNED

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 March 1929, Page 4

BAKEHOUSE BURNED

FIRE IN WILLIS STREET The brazen note of the fire-bell disturbed the calm of the Sabbath a few minutes before nine o’clock last evening, and a red glare was seen in the eastern part of the town. The outbreak was located in the bakehouse of Mr. H. Moore, in Willis Street, the * narrow thoroughfare connecting Chapel and Whall Streets.

The Brigade turned out as if competing at the recent demonstrations, and soon had two leads of hose playing on the flames, which had secured a firm hold on the wooden buildings, comprising the bakehouse itself, and a mixing room and store room, which were connected to the bakehouse by iron roofing. The dry state of the wood, and the tarred roofs, aided the flames, with the result that the buildings burned like tinder, the flames roaring high into the air. It was not long before the bakehouse and connected buildings were burned out, only the shell remaining, and the brick oven. The chief danger was that the flames would spread to the residences adjoining in Willis and Chapel Streets, which are very close to the bakery, but this was averted by the smart work of the Brigade, assisted by the absence of wind. Meanwhile, piles of household goods, removed from the menaced residences, appeared on the roadway as if by magic. The roar of the flames, the shouts of the firemen, the hysterical sobbing of a woman, and the hooting of motor horns as the usual crowd collected, provided a vivid contrast to the calm, moonlit" night of a few minutes previously.

Those on the scene before the Brigade arrived, smartly saved from destruction a Ford delivery van, which was parked under the roofing connecting the buildings. With Mr. H. Lima at the wheel, and the top of the bodywork in flames, the van was pushed out, and run down the hill towards Whall Street, where several buckets of watei’ quenched I the flames. The cause of the outbreak is not explained. Mr. H. Moore, the owner of the bakery, was absent at Westport. Mr. W. Moore, who left the premises about 7.15 p.m. stated that there was then no sign of any fire. The alarm was given just before 9 o’clock, by Miss Costigan, a Willis Street resident, who noticed smoke coming from the building. The contents of the burned-out structures included the mixing apparatus, a gas hot plate, electric lighting, and a small electric motor for driving the mixing apparatus. The refrigerating machinery located in another building was saved.

A teleghone message to Westport acquainted Mr. Moore with his bad luck ,and he left at 10.35 p.m. by car, reaching Greymouth at 4 a.m. to-day. He stated this morning that nothing was saved, with the exception of a small quantity of goods from the room .The insurance will not cover his loss', by a considerable margin. Mr. Moore expressed appreciation of the action of other bakers at Greymouth, who had offered him all possible assistance in the emergency. Arrangements have been made with Mr. H. Arthur for the temporary use of his bakery. It will be necessary for the destroyed building to be replaced in brick, Willis Street being in the brick area.

The insurances are as fdllow: —On the buildings, £325 in the Phoenix Office; on the contents (stock, machinery, etc.), £275 in the Eagle Star Office and £125 in the Phoenix Office; on the motor van, which was damaged, £lOO in the New Zealand Office.

CHCH. FIREMAN. INJURED. (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, March 23. A fireman named J. Hepburn was thrown out of the door on his back, aiid was badly bruised by coming into contact with a live wire, or something electrically charged, in a fire at' A. and T. Burt’s store, in Tuam Street, City, this afternoon. The electrical connection in the store and the street were fused before the brigade’s arrival. Hepburn recovered, but was very shaky for a while. The fire started in the office, and spread to the wooden hardware store, before being extinguished.

BLENHEIM HOUSE. BLENHEIM, March 25. A five-roomed dwelling, owned and occupied by P. R. Rothwell, was destroyed by fire, together; with the contents. The insurances were £BOO on the house (Eagle Star and British Dominions) £225, on contents (North British and Mercantile).