Big Fire in Dunedin

Horowhenua Chronicle, 23 November 1931, Page 8

Big Fire in Dunedin

BRIGADE’S DIFFICULT TASK DUNEDIN, Nov. 21. Premises jointly occupied by Butterfields, Ltd., furnishers, and F .and F. Martin, piano dealers, in the Octagon were badly damaged by fire early this morning. It was one of the brigade’s most difficult jobs in recent years, the seat of the fire being at the rear and the fireman having to fight a way to it through a reeking pall of smoke from burning kapoc. They managed to hold the fire to a shop and store-rooms below, making their fight from the stairway. The brigade prevented the flames from spreading beyond the rear of the building to the front portion. The fire was out off from the soft goods department and no damage was done there. The main shop floors suffered to some extent from the fire, but the greatest damage was below the stairway. The building, which is owned by F. and F. Martin, was insured for £6750 in the State office. Martin’s stock, which consisted principally of pianos, gramophones and records, was covered by £875 in the Sun office. The gramophone records in the main shop were not damaged, but several pianos stored in the workshop below the stairway wore damaged by smoke. Butterfield’s stock was insured for £6BOO with the United Company and £2500 with the Victoria office. This firm carried a large stock of furnishings of every description, in addition to crockery and metal ware.