THEATRE BURNED DOWN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17843, 26 July 1921, Page 4

THEATRE BURNED DOWN

OLD GISBORNE BUILDING,

A LINK WITH THE PAST, FORMER USE BY COURT. Jbt telegraph.—ows cobbesponbeht.J GISBORNE. Mradsy His Majesty's Theatre, the oldest plaes ; of entertainment in Gisborne, was totalrv destroyed by fire this evening. The outbreak was discovered shortly after five '• o'clock, when it was seen that the flames had complete mastery of the building and I for half an hour the public was treated I to a fine pyrotechnic display as the buildj ing was gradually consumed. The theatre was originally known as i Macfarlane's Hall, and subsequentlv as ; the Academy of Music. It. had seen many theatrical attractions of the earlier days. and with it perish memories of Genevieve Ward, Howard Vernon. Miss Kate Bishop and other stars of a generation ago. For a time the theatre was used for no'dnif Supreme Court sessions until the then ' Chief Justice Sir James Prcndergast, 1 made a vigorous protest against being com- ! peilcd to occupy a music hall stage. The building was insured for £2500 in the Guardian Office, and for £500 in the United SEVERAL AUCKLAND OUTBEEAKS. j XO SERIOUS DAMAGE CAUSED. Se\eral minor fires occurred in the citv yesterday afternoon and evening, but ail , were extinguished before serious damage had been caused. The most serious outbreak occurred shortly after 6 p.m., in a two-st-nrev house in Falcon Street, Parnell. in which a front bedroom on the top floor was | gutted. The Parnell Fire Brigade effected ! a good save, preventing the flames j spreading beyond the room where the I fire started. The house, which is of j brick and concrete, is owned by Miss E. j Fowler and occupied by Mrs. Magee. It j is insured for £250 with the Sun Office i The insurance on the furniture was not I available. j The first outbreak took place shortly | after 2 p.m., at a house in Ardmore i Road, Ponsonby, owned and occupied bv | Mrs. I. Compton. The City Fire Brigade received the call and soon had control of I the fire, which had started between the I weatherboards and the linitig under the steps on the front verandah. Though a number of weatherboards were charred the damage was slight. The house was J insured for £800 with the South British Insurance Company, and the contents for £350 with the Norwich Union. A motor lorry parked in the yard of Mr. J. Dempsey's stables, Broadway, Newmarket, caught fire at 6.45 p.m., but the Newmarket Fire Brigade arrived on the scene with great promptitude, and very little damage was done before the flames were extinguished. The lorry is owned by Mr. Dempscy. and is not insured. It is believed the outbreak was caused by a spark from s, railway engine. The City Brigade also received a call to a chimney fire in Rose Road, Grey Lynn, at 5.27 p.m. No damage was done. OUTBREAKS AT CAMBRIDGE. A DWELLING DESTROYED. [BX TELEGRAPH. PRESS ASSOCIATION.} CAMBRIDGE, Monday. A nme-rooroed house owned and occupied by Mr. L. B. Dougherty, in French Pass Road, three miles from Cambridge, was completely destroyed by fire at 5.30 a-m. on Sunday. The insurances are: House, £500 in the State Office; furniture, £150 in the National A fire occurred on Saturday at 11.10 p.m. among paper hags and wrapping papers in a shop occupied by Sir. A. Turner, pastrycook and baker. Very little damage resulted. The brigade was called .to a fire at 4.50 p.m. on Sunday at a. wash-house and outbuildings of the residence occupied bv Mr. A. W. Gane, Wiliiam Street. The brigade confined tbe outbreak to the washhouse.

DAMAGE IK A BEEWEEY. A DUNEDIN OUTBREAK. [BY TELEGRAPH. PR2SS ASSOCIATION.] DUNEEIN, Monday. A firo in Bowie's brewery, discovered at midnight, damaged the premises seriously, and caused' heavy loss on the building and machinery. There are insurances of £2000 on tha building and £1000 on iitock and fittings.