HUGE LOSSES

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 17 November 1924, Page 5

HUGE LOSSES

BIG FIRE IN AUCKLAND. VERY HEAVY LOSSES. BLOCK GUTTED. (by TELEGRAPH— PRESS ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND, NovM6. A disastrous fire occurred last night resulting in the destruction of the premises of Messrs. Guthrie, Bowronand Company, Ltd., oil and colour merchants, in Albert Street. The building which was of four storeys, made a spectacular sight as it went up in flames. Ihe adjoining premises of Messrs Cooke and C 0.,, Avine and spirit merch.ants > ’ivere damaged extensively bv water. The brigade had a strenuous task in fighting the flames, and for three hours the fire had the upper hand. A number of firms had offices ill tlie building, those burnt out being Messrs Guthrie, Boavi-ou and Co.; Mesrs Stanley NeAvcomb and Co., wholesale stationers; Messrs Dickson and Co., Ltd.; Messrs G. A. Bond and Co., Ltd., hosiery warehousemen, the Auckland Millinery Factory; New Zealand Textiles Ltd.: Messrs EdAvard Best and Co., manufacturers agents; Messrs Hunter and Sons, Ltd., clothing manufacturers. In addition, Messrs Cooke and Co., Avine and spirit merchants, in tlie adjoining premises, sustained losses of stock due to the collapse of a Avail, which, crashed through the roof of their building. The fire started soon after ten’ o ’clock. It seemed to be out in half an hour, but suddenly it burst into activity again, and leaping flames illuminated the frhole city. The total damage is estimated at about £60,000. The building was insured in the Northern Insurance ~ Company, while Guthrie, Bowron and Co. had a coA’er of £13,000 on the stock in the same office. The company’s loss is hea\’y, as a Christmas shipment 'worth £12,000 had just been delivered. Stanley Newcomb and Co.’s insurance Avas £2550 in the Royal Exchange Insurance, their loss being estimated at at least £2OOO abo\ r e that amount. Cooke and Co.’s building was insured for £3OOO. and the stock for £SOOO in tlie New and South British companies.