FIRE IN QUEEN STREET

Northern Advocate, 6 February 1928, Page 10

FIRE IN QUEEN STREET

MINING CHAMBERS ABLAZE

BRIGADE EFFECTS GOOD SAVE,

(Special to “Northern Advocate”) AUCKLAND, This Day.

ire swept the top floor of the Mining Chambers, Queen Street, at 11.30 o’clock last night and smoke and water poured into the ground floor shops, occupied by Hugh Wright, Ltd., drapers; Mrs Anseene, florist; and Jamieson’s, tobacconist. Part of the roof collapsed above the Belmont tea Rooms, on the third storey, and the entire floor was well alight when the City Brigade arrived. The crowd, gathered in Queen Street, expected to see the building destroyed within half an hour, but the brigade made a notable save and the blaze, which was spreading down to the middle storey, was under control within a few minutes. Extensive damage was done to the offices of Berman and Burton, solicitors, ami T. R. Smytheman, accountant, on the middle floor, and the adjoining rooms, occupied by Messrs Bennett and Jacobsen and Naylite Signs Ltd., wore damaged by smoke and water. As soon as the water commenced to pour into the shops on the ground floor, the brigade effected an entry and made every efford to cover the stock in H. Wright’s premises, but hundreds of pounds worth of stock received a soaking before these precautions could be taken. The insurances on Hugh Wright’s stock was £6000; Hugh Wright’s building was owned by the Dingwall Estate and the insurance is not available. The Mining Chambers building was owned by Hugh Wright Ltd. and is insured for £5500. The offices damaged were occupied by Berman and Burton, solicitors; T. R. Smytheman, accountant; Bennett and Jacobsen, barristers and’ solicitors; Razlight Signs Ltd; John Graham and Co., builders and land agents. The damage to Wright’s stock is extensive and not yet estimated.