DESTRUCTION BY FIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 156, 30 June 1914, Page 8

DESTRUCTION BY FIRE.

CUSTOMS STREET OUTBREAK

MITCH DAMAGE BY WATER.

An outbreak df fire occulted shortly after half-past six o'clock last night in that portion of tho Excelsior Buildings, Customs Street East, occupied by tho Brett Printing and Publishing Company, but it was quickly suppressed by the Fire Brigade. Tho Excelsior block, which is fourstorevs high, and built of brick, is owned by Messrs. Brown, Barrett, and Co., merchants, and one part of it is used by the proprietors of the Auckland Star— top storey—as a process department, and the throe other floors as storerooms for reels of paper. A brick partition divides the Auckland Star's portion of the premises from that occupied by Brown, Barrett, and Co, The fire broke out in the top floor, and tho fir© brigndo was soon on the scene. The only way in which the flames could be attacked was by means of the telescopic ladders. These were erected smartly, and in about 10 minutes after tho arrival of tho brigade tho outbreak was subdued. Tho firo was confined to the top storey, but a good deal of damage was done to the plant, both by fire, and water. Tho threo lower floors in which the paper was stored were flooded, and a fairly large amount of damage was done by water to the stocK in those portions of tho premises. Tho cause of the fire is not known.

Tho insurances on the stock amount to £4500, and are made up as follows:— £1000 in the Guardian Office; £1000 in tho Manchester Office; £1000 in the United Office: £500 in the Sun Office; £500 in'the Alliance Office; and £500 in the Phoenix Office. The insurances on the building were not available last night.

FIRE NEAR ONEHUNGA. SHOP AND DWELLING BURNED. A shop with dwelling attached was completely destroyed by fire yesterday morning at Te Papnpa, a suburb of Oilehunga. Tho shop was used as a general store by Mr. Walter Samuel Harwood, who, together with a bey named Nelson Ibhotscn, retired 'to rest shortly after ten o'clock on Sunday night. About three o'clock yesterday morning tho boy was awakened by the explosion of some cordial bottles in tho shop, and upon getting up to investigate matters he discovered that the building was on fire. He, quickly aroused Mr. Harwood, who got out through the bedroom window. Constablo Thomson, seeing tho glare, gave the fire brigade tho alarm, and proceeded to the scene of the conflagration in its new motor-car, only to find that tho buildings had been destroyed. There is a, telephone bureau near to the scene of the firo, but it is not connected with Onohunga botween 8 p.m. and 8 a.m., and consequently much valnablo time was lost in notifying tho Onebunga Fire Brigade Tho buildings belonged to Mrs. Batten, of Otahnhu. The chop was Insured for £60 with the South British Insurance Company, but the house was uninsured. Mr. Harwood had his stock covered to the extent of £76, and his furniture was insured for £60 in the Australian Alliance Insurance Office. Nothing was saved. Thero had not been a firo in the house since Friday evening, and the cause of the outbreak is unknown.

UNOCCUPIED HOUSE BURNED.

A LOSS At'eIRKDALE.

An unoccupied house in Kia Ora Road, Birkdale, owned by Mr. H. D. Brown, who is at present absent from New Zealand, was totally destroyed by fire at tho end of last week, only tho chimney being left standing. The' houßo has been vacant for about six months, and the origin of the fire is a mystery.