COSTLY BLAZE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11539, 16 January 1932, Page 7

COSTLY BLAZE

DAMAGE AT WHANGAREI SEVEN BUSmlss PREMISES . . DEMOLISHED CONTENTS. OF FIVE OTHER SHOPS DAMAGED ‘ < (Press association; , ; ; M'HANGAEEF ,Jau. ■ 17,. ,/ At the outcome ; of the most' • costly 1 and spectacular fire which Whan-' garei has experienced over -30 years a Wide breach has been made right through, -an important and comparatively new. trading Hock in the heart of the town, : ; Four premises were completely demolished, the most notable being those, of the Farmers' Union Trading Co., the General Providers, and Mr R. G. Hosking’s extensive drapery emporium. These buildings stood on a steep slope, with two storeys fronting the lower and hack street near the Cameron street corner; they were of four storeys, including basements at the,.back.

The other structures destroyed Were those of Mi- C. ,R. Caplin, tobacconist; Mr H. Wilkinson’s*'' confectioner ; the Wliangarei Racing Club’s office (all contents saved); while the stocks of Messrs East and McKinnon (both fruiterers), immediately north and south respectively, were utterly spoiled by the lieat, smoke, and water. The contents of three other shops, in Cameron street, Messrs Burfoot (chemist), McKinnon (Marble Bar tea-rooms), and another drapery, shop also owned by Mr Hosking, _ were damaged by smoke and water. .

Owing to it being a- half-holiday here it is probable that smouldering had been going on for several. hours until smoke was observed proceeding from the rear of the Farmers’ Union Trading Company’s property just before 7 o’clock. Though the volume of smoko increased enormously, due to the interior burning, nearly an hour elapsed before the flames burst outfrom all parts of the building on Mr Mr Hosting’s' property. The other premises demolished were speedily involved in the spectacular blaze, which was observable over a radius of many miles.

A very light north-westerly wind’ carried showers of sparks a long distance, but no ill consequences ensued. Somo windows in budding's on the opposite side of the street from the conflagration were broken by the heat, but water from hoses prevented further harm. In the early stages a member of the Farmers’ Company’s staff intrepidly entere.d the premises and carried out a case of high explosives. Incidents during the progress of the fire were loud detonations from bursting tins of kerosene and . the crashing down of the floors and walls. Tho fire brigade, 5 -reinforced by ex-members, used every available appliance and performed prodigies of risky endeavour until finally they gained tho upper hand about 9 o’clock. It is estimated that the total loss will be in the vicinity of £40,000.