FIRE AT AUCKLAND.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 14 October 1925, Page 4

FIRE AT AUCKLAND.

CITY BUILDING DAMAGED. (by TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) AUCKLAND, Oct. 13. Fire completely gutted three rooms and damaged two others in the British. Buildings on the corner of Queen and Dtirham- Streets shortly before nine o’clock this evening. The portion of the building affected by the fire was occupied by -shops a-nd offices, the remainder being -taken up by the British Hotel. S The/ offices were fortunately separated 1 from the hotel by a brick partition, and only slight damage was done by water in the. hotel. The oubreak apparently commenced on the first floor and quickly ascended the istaircase to the top floor, where three room-s occupied' by the Hotel Workers’ Union suffered badly. All the records of the union were, however, undamaged. On the first floor the office of J. Burke and 00. was -completely gutted.

A room- tenanted by the Savage Club l on the -second floor was slightly damaged and water did -some damage in’the office of R-. A. Singer, solicitor, on the first floor and in the shops of Ros-s and Co., fancy goods importers, and A. W. Robertson and 00., music sellers.

The fire was first noticed by the staff of the hotel. It then had a good hold and flames were issuing from the roof. A large crowd gathered, but the arrival of the brigade was followed almost immediately by the extinction of the blaze.

The building was purchased about two months ago by the Auckland Power. Board from T. Buxton. The hoard was preparing -plans for renovations. The loss is fairly well covered by insurance, details of which are not available.