FIRE AT GREYMOUTH

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 May 1933, Page 7

FIRE AT GREYMOUTH

DUNCAN MCLEAN’S WAREHOUSE. An outbreak of fire occurred, , last evening, in the wholesale grocery warehouse of Messrs Duncan McLean, Ltd., Boundary Street. It was discovered before the flames gained a good hold, and the Fire Brigade quickly extinguished the blaze. Only minor damage was done by the fire, a portion of'a wall and the roof being charred, and a skylight broken. The origin of the outbreak was in a corner of the building, used as an office by a member of the staff. Some stationery on the shelves was burnt, also some of the firm’s documentary records, which were stored near the roof, but they were not of an important character, and the loss will not cause inconvenience.

Water and smoke were responsible for most of the damage to the stock in the warehouse, including sugar and other goods. The amount of the damage to the stock is estimated at £lOOO, but it is covered by insurance. The building, owned by Messrs Harley and Co., is also insured. Messrs McLean, Ltd., have occupied it since their own building, on the opposite side of Boundary Street, was destroyed by fire, four and a-half years ago. The actual cause of the fire is not known. It was stated, to-day, that the last member of the staff left the building at 6.20 p.m., and everything then appeared to be safe. Ten minutes later, Mr Grey Scott, who was in Richmond Quay, saw smoke issuing from the roof of the warehouse, and gave the alarm.

While inspecting the damage, after the fire, Mrs P. J. McLean had a narrow escape from injury, when the glass in a large skylight, which had evidently been cracked by the heat, suddenly fell into the building. The glass struck a rafter in its fall, and shattered, some of the pieces just missing Mrs McLean.

DEAD MAGISTRATE’S HOUSE. GISBORNE, May 13. An eleven-roomed house on the Sheridan Estate, was destroyed py fire this morning. The premises had been tenanted by the late P. H. Harper, S.M., and had been unoccupied since his departure for Christchurch on a holiday. The building was insured for £6OO, and Harper’s furniture and contents, including war souveniers and Maori curios, for £550.