FIRES.

Grey River Argus, 24 February 1927, Page 2

FIRES.

TAUMARUN’UL February 23. Last night at II o'clock, the store and contents at Ongarue, belonging to the Farmers’ Trading Company, worth £SOOO, were entirely consumed by fire. There was no rvater and no fire brigade. The adjoining boardinghouse of Sims was saved with great difficulty by wet blankets. The origin is a mystery, and was possibly rats chewing matches. GISBORNE, February 23.

A spectacular fire this morning destroyed a two-storey- wooden block in Lowe Street, known as Dunlop’s Buildings, occupied by- the Gisborne Motor Service, Government Life Insurange, Hackett (estate agent), Coutts (carrier), Currie (produce merchant), Breig (architect), and Cooper (bootmaker). The fire started in the motor service repair shop, and -when discovered a large portion of the building was a mass of flames, which spread with surprising rapidity-. Five service cars Were rescued, several others being destroyed. Except for the Motor Company's office fittings and books, there was no other salvage. The property v,-as owned by Bates (Hawke s Bay), mid was an old landmark, a portion comprising' Gisborne’s first breweiy. The property is owned by- J. W. Bates (Hastings), and insured for £5,500 (New Zealand Insurance). The motor company lost nine or ten ears. The Government Life Insurance lost various

records. excepting essential ones, which were secure in the strong room. Another tenant of the building, J. Harvey, working jeweller, saved nothing. The motor company’s insurance on the cars in the building was £1625, stock, furniture and fittings £1915 (both in the Eagle Star Dominion Company). The other insurances were not large.