BIG BLAZE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 23 February 1927, Page 5

BIG BLAZE.

' FIRE IN AMUSEMENT PARK, (.BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION .) AUCKLAND, Feb. 22. A portion oi the buildings at- the Lunai Amusement- Park was razed to tne ground this evening by a spectacular fire. The buildings ruined comprised 1 the tea rooms and cabaret, tne offices of the secretary and his staff, and the “fun factory.” In addition a large portion of the scenic railway whion traversed the top of the building disappeared in the flames. The management estimates the -damage at £IO,OOO. The fire broke out with startling suddenness. The park was closed to the public at the time, but Mr B. W. Beaumont, secretary and manager of the park, was in the office with two other members of his office staff. They were engaged in tallying the rereceipts of the afternoon, when suddenly a muffled explosion was heard. Owing to the presence of the Renown in the harbour this passed off lightly. Then one of the men opened the door to go .into the outer office, and found the building filled' with smoke.. Mr Gilmour dashed back into the building to get the money arid some paper® that were in the safe, but so quickly had the flames spread that it was impossible for him to enter the office. He next made a fruitless attempt to rescue two carriages on a ,-part of the scenic railway endangered by the flames. T'h’’ee fire engines were engaged in the task of fighting the fire, and after a- hard struggle succeeded in preventing. the spread of the. flames to other parts of tne. building. The cause of the outbreak is a) mystery. All electric current serving the various devices had been switched) off

Luna, Park is insured, but the amount is not available. After the fire about £IOO in money and a number -of papers which 1 were in the safe in the office were recovered unharmed.