Serious Fire Sweeps City Joinery

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 249, 22 October 1935, Page 6

Serious Fire Sweeps City Joinery

PREMISES IN JOSEPH STREET GUTTED At about 3.23 last night a lire was discovered which was one of the largest seen in Palmerston North for several years. Jt broke out in a large wooden factory in Joseph street, tho greater portion of which was gutted before the blaze was Suppressed.

The . building, which was owned by Messrs A. K. and E. J. S. Spencer, was occupied by Mr. John Ax, who was carrying on business as a joiner. The building was left safe and secure by the employees when they finished work shortly after 5 p.m., and the cause of the fire is a mystery. Its origin was apparently in tho rear of the building, and it was in this jiortion that the outbreak was first detected by nearby residents, who gave the alarm. A good hold had been obtained by tho lire before the arrival of the brigade, which had considerable difficulty iu obtaining tho upper hand. The conflagration was accompanied by a large volume of snioKC, and there was soon a large crowd gathered in tho vicinity.

Although tho boiler room and about three-fourths of the main factory wero gutted, no estimate could be made last

night of the damage. The building, which was erected about 14 years ago, was insured, bv.t tho amount of the cover was not known.

Air. Ax did not attempt an inspection bast night to survey the damage, but it is known that there was a quantity of completed stock in the factory. Some of the plant was damaged, latho beltings suffering particularly, but Mr. Ax was iiot prepared to estimate his loss until lie had examined tho factory in detail