DAMAGE BY FIRE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 181, 3 July 1931, Page 7

DAMAGE BY FIRE.

BLAZE AT FEILDING. BUSINESS BLOCK DESTROYED. For the second time within a space of 12 months, the large wooden and brick building on the corner of Alanchester and Ferguson Streets in Feeding suffered from the ravages of fire, the second and most serious outbreak taking place at five minutes to four this morning. The fire which had broken out in the rear of Air AlcEwen’s radio shop, was discovered by Constable Johnson and tlie alarm was immediately sounded. On its arrival the brigade found that the flames already had a good hold in not only Air McEwen’s premises, but also the two adjoining occupied by Airs Chadwick and Air A. Taylor, and under the direction of Superintendent O. Sporle leads were immediately-concentrated in keeping the flames in this quarter. Good work was done by the brigade in this direction, the flames being well subdued when suddenly they burst out again in the top storey, necessitating further efforts to save the whole of the building from being engulfed. After a hard fight, tlie brigade made a splendid save, none of the Ferguson Street premises from Air AlcDowall’s florist shop suffering any damage, although there was no brick wall between them and the seat of the outbreak. The whole of the Alanchester Street frontage of the building was badly damaged and will have to be pulled down, just the front wall of Messrs AlcEwen and Taylor’s and Airs Chadwick’s shops standing, while the top storey of the whole building, which contained residental flats, was badly gutted and damaged by smoke and water. The large shop on the corner fronting both Manchester Street and Ferguson Street was unoccupied at the time. The building was owned by Airs Haggitt of Palmerston North, and it.is understood was covered by insurance as were the contents of tlie shops occupied by tlie tenants. The previous fire, which took place during Mr G. A. Fiebig’s ownership of the building, occurred in the Ferguson Street frontage, the brigade at this outbreak also confining the flames practically to where they started. Superintendent Sporle states that there was an excellent pressure of water—loslbs per square inch—and even with four leads off the main the pump on the fire engine kept the pressure at about that strength all the time. The absence of wind also helped the brigade in its' efforts.

COTTAGE BURNED. Shortly after eight o’clock last evening, the Fire Brigade received a call to the corner of Heretaunga Street and Boundary Road where a three-roomed house was blazing fiercely. There was no one home at the time of the outbreak which badly damaged the building. Owing to tlie low water pressure the brigado w r ere required to employ the motor pump. The occupier of the house was Mr Jamieson whose furniture carried an insurance policy, but the amount is unknown.