FIRE IN PALMERSTON.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 4 January 1922, Page 4

FIRE IN PALMERSTON.

FOUR SHOPS GUTTED. A destructive Are occurred in Palmerston North at an early hour this morning (says the Times). Shortly after midnight Mr Tolley, proprietor of the Railway Hotel, observed smoke arising from the roar portion of the launchy of toe Lee and Co. He, immediately gave the alarm, and the Fire Brigade was promiytly on the scene. When the Brigade arrived, the lire had a good hold of the building — a wooden structure opposite the railway station—and was spreading rapidly. The Brigade worked hard to confine the condagratiou to a given area, and alter an hour’s strenuous operations succeeded in " suppressing the outbreak. The whole block was, however, completely gutted. The occupants of the premises were:. Joe Lee and Co., laondrymeii; 'Grey and fuelling, butchers; Wong slum, fruiterer; H. Ricketts, tobacconist. The origin of the fire is a mystery. The Chinese occupants of the laundry”ran through the streets screaming with alarm, ami some of them clad in the scantiest attire. The stock, in the whole of Hie four pVemisesf.was badly damaged by fire anil water.