A HUGE FIRE

Hokitika Guardian, 7 January 1932, Page 2

A HUGE FIRE

LOSS ESTIMATED AT £IO,OOO. BIG CHRISTCHURCH WAREHOUSE. (By Telegraph — Per Frets Association) CHR" STOHURCH, January 6. Damr-o e?i,mated at ten thousand pounds, uas caused bv a fire, nhifh ■broke out at 5.45 'this bveiUng in the jpgitone Woollen Company's building in Lichfield Struct, jn the centie o; the city. The building is a modern, five-storeved structure, in steel frame and concrete, ard is owned and occupied dry the- Pet-one Woollen Company’s -Christchurch branch, with several tenants, mostly in smaller warehouse business. 'I he fire originated in itko top floor, occupied bj Abbott Armstrong and Howie, warehousemen, and Bond's Hosiery. It is not known n which oi the two places the fire began. By the time that the fire was dircovered, it had worked back into the (Petone Woollen Coy's workroom on the same tloor. The workroom ana everythin? in it, including the machinery, was completely destroyed. Indeed the whole of the top floor was burned out. These were the only parts of the building that were damaged by the actual fire. Other considerable loss ivas caused by smoke and water. The full strength of the City F'ro Brigade was called out to deal with the outbreak, and they had the fire under control iu about an hour. Serious damage was done by watei

to the Woollen Cun pane's hoavilystoek -warehouse on the first floor. Mm h Jess damage was done to Glasson's waic-lionse, uhn.h vetaMs soil goods, and a little damage was done to the Stock of Cooper, Wilkes, and Brooks, warehousemen, and Eastern merchants. No damage was done in the basement, where Van -dtaveren Brothers li.i-.e a branch warehouse. The lire was not spectacular in character, ii b ng confined within the tie- pro a I walls of the building. The estimate of £IO,OOO damage is given a s a constructive one. I't may possibly be exceeded v,hen an examination' is actually mad .