LUNA PARK BLAZE.

Grey River Argus, 23 February 1927, Page 4

LUNA PARK BLAZE.

AT AUCKLAND. £lO,OOO Damage. I I — ■ - AUCKLAND, Feb. 22. - A portion of the buildings at Luna Amusement Park was razed to the ground, this evening by a spectacular fire. Ihe buildings ruined comprised Hie tea rooms and cabaret, the offices nf the secretary and his staff, and the ■ “Fun F.-i.-tmy.” in addition to a large portion of the scenie railway, which traversed the fop of the buildings, disappeared ia tile flames. I’io management estimates the dam 9go at ten thousand pounds. The fn-e broke out with startling .-inldeniH s. Tue Park was closed to lie public at the time, but Mr B. W. leaumont (Secretary and Manager of the Park) was in the >ffi< e, with two other members of his olliee staff. Thev ' l |e vig.-igcd ii. tallying the receipts ot the afternoon, -,vlo n suddenly a muffled explosion was heard. Owing to the presence of the Renown in the harbour, this xvas passed ofi lightly. J hen one of the men upcnc-i I door to go into the outer office, and found the bi ilding filled with smoke. Mr Gilmoir dashed back into tha building to get money and some papers that were in the safe, lint so quiekly bad the flams spread that it was mpossible for him to enter the office. Ho m-xt made a fruitless attempt to rescue two carriages on a part of the sucniu r.-ulw.-i v. endangered by thiv I’hrec lire nngi-ics were engaged in the task or fighting - In- fire, and after a hard struggle, tl.ex succeeded in preventing the spread of the flumes to other parts of the building. LATER. I lie cause of the onlbreak j s n niysteiy. AH the electric current serving the various devices bad been switched off. Luna Park is insured, but the amount is not available. After the fire about. £11)11 in money and a number of papers which were in the safe were recovered unharmed.