TOTALLY DESTROYED.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 2 January 1929, Page 5

TOTALLY DESTROYED.

H.B. FARMERS' HASTINGS STORE AND CONTENTS.

LOSS OYER £] 1,000.

(By Telegraph—Press Association) \ HASTINGS, This Day.

The Hawke's Bay Farmers' Co-op-erative Association, Ltd., Hasting? branch, at the corner of Market and Quren Streets, consisting of large grocery, boot and shoe, 'glairs, china and crockery, ironmongery, implement and engineering departments, together with full stocks, was completely destroyed by fire this morning, at seven o'clock.. The lire must ha\c been sihouldcring for a considerable time. When the engine arrived promptly the building was standing, but before tWo leaids. of-water had been laid the flames burst through the roof and ran from end to end. of the structure, which collapsed in ruins. Nothing was ■saved.

The stocks included oils and benzine, as ■well as cartridges, gelignite and detonators, amongst which the Brigade had to work at much peril; but when the gelignite and detonators had been removed to a place of safety, the principal danger was past. Gases from Hie oils exploded, blowing out window's. Fireman Price received injuries requiring medical attention. With six ileads of water on, the fire was subdued at about 8.30. The building, which is now a mere shell, vats of wood ami iron, standing in its bwn block, and was separated by a section from the "County Club on one side, and by a right-of-way from the Association ’s garage on the rear end, neither of which buildings suffered. The building and contents were fully covered, the stocks and contents being insured for £10,500 and the building for £BOO, in the Alliance and Royal offices. V