HELPLESS ONLOOKERS.

Northern Advocate, 9 February 1925, Page 8

HELPLESS ONLOOKERS.

WACKO A CONFLAGE ATT ON. PRINCIPAL BUSINESS BLOCK. NAPIEE, This Day. A fire at Wairoa early on Sunday morning destroyed a central block of 10 business premises on the Marine Parade, thus wiping out one of the busiest sections of the town. The fire broke out in tearooms. A water supply had been unavailable for some months and the' town being- without lire- fighting equipment the great crowd could only stand hopelessly by and watch the buildings go up in smoke. The total, loss is estimated at £25,000. Telegraphies communication between north and south is cut off temporarrly—Press Assn. " DETAILS OF LOSSES. VERY LITTLE SAVED. WAIROA, This Day. The premises destroyed were thousc of J. T. Tanner (dentist), O'Malley and Beaufoy (solicitors), J. Osier (baker, shop, tearooms and residence), J. P. Moore, .(draper), Miss McCormack (dressmaker), R. J. Thomson (photographer), F. Hanham (bookseller), Franges (Grand Cafe), Lim Kee (fruiterer), V. Doods (outfitter), and. W. Smith (jeweller). Mrs. Smith's dining rooms were damaged. All the others were completely destroyed, except a brick bakery behind Osier's. ■ Very little was saved from any building and heavy losses were sustained. It will cost £25,000 to £30,000 to replace, the buildings. The losses of stocks amount to many thousands above insurances. Tanner's and, O'Malley and Beaufoy 's buildings were owned by J. A. Nilsson and insured for £560. Moore % Hanham's and Thomson's buildings were owned by Constable and McGaldrick and insured for £2750. Lim Kee 's shop was owned by J. Simpson and insured for £500. Thomson's'stock was insured for £100. —Press Assn.