Big Blaze at Stratford.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 6 May 1919, Page 3

Big Blaze at Stratford.

MANY" BUSINESS PLACES DESTROYED. oPer Press Association). Stratford, this day. A fire broke out shortly after midnight on the east side of Broadway, spreading quickly and destroying a large portion of the block before the flames wore arrested. The buildings worw on the railway leasehold and we.ro all of woodi. The fire originated in Slieehan's tobacconist's shop, the building also being occupied by Sladen and Palmer (engineers) and Ford (bootmaker). The next building occupied by Finnerty, <es(tate agent, was destroyed, and also the block of buildings known as York Chambers, occupied by Richardson (grocer), Fargie (estate agent), Cook (tailor), Hcaly (architect). On Kee (greengrocer), Harris (fishmonger), and Barker (refreshment rooms). Allwere practically destroyed.

The Central Co-operative Grocery Stores were damaged severely and Foster's bootshop at the other end also suffered. OK IG IN" A .MYSTERY. Later. A fortunate change of wind and the splendid wcrk of the Fire Brigade undioubtlcdiy saved the fire from taking the whole of -the street, the Newton 'King corner and possibly beyond. The fire was arretted at the Central Ct>pp. on ono :rd-< and at Foster's on the other. Tie whole of the buildings were on railway 1 a rs, and naturally were not so solic.lv built as tlio.se ou freehold. So frr t'.e origin of the fire is a mystery.

The lesseb of the shop where the fire first broke out is T. Sheehan, a returned soldier, who is! at present at Rotorun. N is brother managing ll.p business for him.

At a few minutes to twelve Dr. Steven passed the b.iildings when everything appealed alright, but just after mid,night the flames burst forth in great volume. Sheehaiis' building is owned by I>r T. L. Paget, now of t'almerston North, Finnerty's! by Wake, solicitor, of Auckland, and the York Chambers block by Ebenezer Burgjess, now a. resident of Hamilton l .

THE INSURANCES. Later. The insurances so far available are as follow: Dr Paget'.s building. £525; Slieehan'.s stock, fittings and billiard table, £400; Ford's stock and tools, £50; Theoslophieal Society furniture, £30; Burgess's building, £700; Tyrer's office furniture, £100; Mrs Barker's stock and fittings,

'50; S. Cook, furniture and stock. •050; Harris's stock and fittings, £ I CO; J. D. Healy, office furniture, £50: On Kee, building, £100, and stock £SCO.