A SPECTACULAR FIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18642, 25 February 1924, Page 8

A SPECTACULAR FIRE.

S PALMEKSTON OUTBREAK. j NUMBER OF SHOPS BURNED. HEAVY LOSS INVOLVED. BRIGADE'S DIFFICULT TASK. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] PALMERSTON NORTH.. Saturday. The most spectacular and destructive fire that has occurred in Palmerston North for a generation was notified to the brigade at 11 o'clock last night, and resulted in the destruction, complete or partial., of seven business premises on the western side of the Square, and in Cuba Street. The outbreak originated in . the rear of the Empire Auctioneering Company, and fanned by a fresh north-east-erly breeze, defied the efforts of the firefighters for over an hour. From the auction mart the flames spread successively to the Universal Supply, Schneideman's tailoring establishment, Stanley's Drapery Store, " Bobby's " confeotionery. Giorgi's, tobacconist, and Sam Lee. laundry. The stock of Mr. Wycherley's, outfitter, was also slightly damaged by water. . '~ The scene is one of the historic parts of Balmerston North, being that formerly occupied by the old Theatre Royal, which 20 or 30 years ago, was the town's chief entertainment and meeting house before being converted into shops. The fire spread rapidly, and attracted a large crowd. As the flames roared skywards to a height at times of nearly a hundred feet, showers of sparks drifted down the wind. Several explosions were heard as the flames reached a stock of kerosene which did much to heighten the intensify of the fire. From the start the brigade was severely handicapped by the totally inadequate supply of water, and little improvement was effected until the "need for it had almost disappeared.- But for the presonce of the high pressure pump on one of the engines, the damage would assuredly have been even more extensive than it was. Flames Leaping Skywards. Although the brigade turned out promptly and rushed the two engines to the scene, the fire had, on account of the lateness' of the discovery, secured a firm hold of the Empire Auctioneering Company, and within a few minutes of the arrival of the firemen the flames were leaping from the roof to a height of 30ft. above the building. In spite of great peril, the fire fighters worked heroically, but they faced a raging furnace of flame and this, fanned by a fresh north-easterly breeze, hastened the spread to the Square side of the buildings. One engine was commissioned in the Square and as the conflagration penetrated to Schneideman's, Stanley's, and Bobby's, the men were faced with the formidable task of combating it from two fronts, with no short cut from one to the other. Several Narrow Escapes. Voluntary help was given in the manipulation of the hose and for a full hour the desperate struggle with the fire continued. As each portion of the building was consumed huge beams fell, followed by the dull thud of a staircase and the crash of crumbling walls. There were several narrow escapes. In a surprisingly short space of time the whole of the buildings known an the old Theatre Royal premisescontaining ■four shops—had been reduced to a shell, while all that remained of the auction room was a heap of debris. , Although brick walls bounded the burning building on either side, the flames spread to the adjoining shopson the western side, L. Giorgi's tobacconist shop and the Universal Supply Depot facing the Square, and Sam Leo's Chinese laundry, a brick building of two storeys, having its frontage to Cuba Street. On the eastern side the Premier Vulcanising Depot was threatened, the stock being removed from this and several other shops in the vicinity. For some time the crowd watched anxiously the brigade's endeavour to stem the fiery tide in Cuba Street. When the interior of the auction mart crumbled and fell the firemen on the Cuba Street side, concentrated their attention to the adjoining buildings, but in spite of their efforts, the fire traversed the laundry and gutted the rear portion of the Universal Supply Depot. Mr. Giorgi's shop was damaged by water and smoke, but he was fortunate in removing some of his stock.

One of the narrowest of escapes was experienced by four oL the firemen who were standing beneath Schneideman's premises when a huge signboard fell and missed them by inches. Details of Insurances. The owners of the old Theatre Royal building, Messrs. Mowlem Bros., are heavy losers, although the structure was insured for £4000 with the Alliance Company.. Mr. T. T. Kerslake, to whom belonged the Universal Supply Company's, and L. Giorgi's premises, is insured with the Standard and Yorkshire Insurance Companies for a total of £1600. The Cuba Street brick building damaged by the fire, was insured with the Standard for £800, and the front shop was insured for a. like amount— with the Standard Company and £400 with the Yorkshire. Mr. L. Giorgi was the most fortunate occupier in the block, and his stock, which was slightly damaged by water and smoke, was insured for £1000 with the Atlas Company. The Universal Supply Company, although insured for approximately £3000 with the Yorkshire, Alliance, and State companies, are extremely heavy losers, little of the stock, if any, escaping damage by smoke and water.