FIRE RAZES BLOCK

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 26 May 1932, Page 7

FIRE RAZES BLOCK

SHOPS AND RESIDENCES OUTBREAK AT WELLINGTON FLAMES FANNED BY GALE STIFF' TASK FOR BRIGADE, (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, May 26. The Wellington Eire Brigade was set a pretty severe task about 1 o’clock this morning to get the better 1 of an outbreak at Rentaul Street, Newtown, which, in a raging southerly gale, demolished a block of buildings containing four shops and residential quarters and two apartment houses alongside and threatened others, some, of which are scorched and blackened. Besides the threat of lire from seas of sparks carried off and fanned by the wind there was the. added danger of flying .sheets of roofing iron which ever and anon were carried up into the air and thrown hither and thither with gusts that bore them. The main building was a two-storied structure and was owned by Messrs Lewis and Joseph. Details of insurances are not available. The occupiers were C. J. Burns and family, who ran a butchery in a shop and were not insured; Dahya Bala, Indian fruiterer, who also- lived on the premises and whose insurance is not available; A. F. Turner and his wife and family, who carried on a grocery business, and whose insurances are not available, and James Booth, proprietor of a dairy, business, who had insurances of £3OO on liis stock and furniture. One of the apartment houses was of ten rooms and was owned and occupied by G. Bartholomew and liis wife and family. The House was insured for £IOOO. The other apartment house of 11 rooms was occupied by G. Morris and family. Tlie house was insured for £I2OO and the. contents for £3OO.

The need for protection against fire loss is obvious. Consult the Mercantile and General Insurance Company, Ltd. Local Agents: Johnson and Hev, Grocers, Hawera.—Advt.