THEATRE ON FIRE

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 February 1935, Page 14

THEATRE ON FIRE

DAMAGE AT PALMERSTON.

[FEB PBEBS ASSOCIATION.]

PALMERSTON N., February 9.

After apparently smouldering during most of the night, a disastrous fire was discovered at 6.40 am. in t)ie Palace Theatre building, George Street.

The Brigade arrived to find smoke billowing from the building. Forcing an entrance first through the back, they were met by flames from the stage. Others smashed a way in from the . front, and though blinded by the dense voiu,me of smoke, six leads#of hose were brought into play, and the fire suppressed in an hour. - The seat of the outbreak is consdiered to have been in the vicinity of the stage. The fire then reached the eaves at the rear of the building and travelled slowly through the roof towards the front, until smoke was seen issuing. Burning debris dropping from the ceiling ignited the floor and seating in a hundred places, and spread the fire extensively. The brick building was very badly damaged, the interior being a mass of charred debris.

The theatre, on which £2OQP was spent in remodernising twelve months ago, was owned by Palmerston Pictures Ltd., and leased to Palmerston Amusements, Ltd. The insurances, all held in the South British office arc £BOOO, building, and £4375 on contents. It is thought that, the talkie equipment, valued at £ 1000. will salvaged. AUSTRALIAN TRAGEDY. (Recd. Feb. 9, 12.45 p.m.j. > MELBOURNE, February 9. Leaving her home near Underbool, to search for camels, Mrs. Mahomet Anwar, the Australian wife of an Afghan camel driver, returned to find the house a smouldering ruin, '•and two children, a boy 14 months, and a girl three years, burnt to death. It is thought that the elder child set fire to the home , when/ playing with matches.