A NARROW ESCAPE

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, Issue LIII, 23 May 1908, Page 8

A NARROW ESCAPE

THE WELLINGTON POST OFFICE FIRE, \ DESTRUCTIVE BLAZE. fPBESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, May 23. The General Post and Telegraph Department had an exceedingly narrow escape from destruction in last night's fire. A fierce nor' -west gale was blowing at the time, and after O'Brien's store was completely gutted the flames swept with rapidity through the other -wooden structures facing Panama street. These were mostly used, as workshops and storerooms in coimeotaon with the departments named. The fire roared through those buildings and the flames high in the air. So strong was the wind that the leads of hose operated from the ground level became ineffective, the water being blown into spray before it reached its mark. Another risk the firemen had to contend against was from the sheets of galvanised" iron, which, hoisted by the wind, were thrown in all directions. "When the flames reached 1 the brick wall at the rear of tine Post, and Telegraph Office they received a .check, and the fireproof protections over the apertures in that portion of 'the premises prevented the fixe getting to any, extent within the .building.,.., ; , ,; ■ ■- ' , The, firemen were .fighting with great and. received cheer after cheer 'of €aicour ; agement, I from the Bpec'fat»r£' ■■ Shortly 'a,ffcer, ,3.0 p,m. ajl d£J*gejr f t 6' y ihe' 'P^'^ittvii' Trilegragifi Department liEad-Veen'Temovea/' ,ii<d! the, fireipen's attention' wfiß dliwcted- 1 to ih'e wooden bonifijKj jwWch' > -was- still' T liiirning ' Inerrily. plon-da of jsmoke Jotund admiß»ioii f into the j£gst uv an<jl 7 Telegraph .'.Office, and about £■.30. .^^e.ew^ dense . that : the operators nad to^abandon ; . j their jnstruments, and •in * fche ' other department, . opera^ofis were ffQspenddd for' a ume, bp,^, in both branches provision was' made for,. the Safety iof the : records^ etc In tEe maiil roqm> .: parcel office, and public office of the, Post Office there was a general clearance of postal matter, but the premises were not touched by. the fire. The State Fire Insurance Company removed the contents of its office from danger. ' i The xratbi«ak occurred in O'Brien's •store, at the . corner of Featherston and Panama streets. This was filled with furniture belonging to clients of the firm. . E. L. Levin had a large quantity stored, valued at about £5000. Captain Browne, of the Defence Department, is also a loser. Mr O'Brien is unabJe to estimate the amount of his loss, but declares that it spells ruin to him. Other occupants of the destroyed build ings were Casey and Moran (solicitors), the Inspector of Weights and Measures, W; B; Applement (manufacturers' agent), 'and Albert E. Oeenaway (dairy. produce exporter) j ako the premises used by tbe Telegraph and Postal Department as workshops and stores. The two ad joining wipoden buildings, unoccupied, but ;foml«rly leased by Kedr and. Co.; (parriers) 'and Ekins (gunsmith), were, gutted. .There 1 /was-. little or' no insurance on. any, of the. places. s ' ' • - K r '; ■'■' \\" .' ',