SIX SHOPS BURNED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18772, 28 July 1924, Page 6

SIX SHOPS BURNED.

FIRE AT PAPATOETOE J COMPLETE DESTRUCTION, EARLY MORNING OUTBREAK. £ HEAVY LOSSES RESULT. The most destructive fire which has occurred at Papatoetoe broku oat shortly before one o'clock yesterday morning, when a block of six wooden shops In the centre of the township wa3 burned to the ground. Owing to the lack of a pret. sure water system and a fire brigade, tiots the slightest effort could be made to e&va the buildings. From the whole block and stocks held in the shops, practically nothing wa3 saved. Five of the shops were owned by Mr. Waldo Smith, plumber and ironmonger, who also occupied one shop. Tfcij remaining shop was oimed by Messrs., Hawthorne and Munro, butchers, who were also the occupiers. The names of thu ocy cupierS, with the nature of the .. businesses are:— Messrs. Hawthorne and Monro, butchers. Mr. G. Mahoney, S. and A. Grocery | Stores. Mrs. Knight, fruiterer. ' .. Mrs. Morrison, draper (two shops), Mr. Waldo Smith, plumber and ironmonger. The shops, which wers all of one storey, i; were situated iu the main street, Station t.Road, and were almost opposite the Public Hall. They formed one of the most . important shopping blocks in the district. Flames Spread Rapidly. , The fire, which appeared to fcava started in the middle of the block ia the shop occupied by Mr. Mahoney*3 grocery store, was discovered by Mr. Smith, • who, with his wife and family, occupied the only residence which was attached lo the shops. By that time, the fire had a. good hold, and was spreading rapidly. The occupants of Mr. Smith's house quickly left the burning building, but it was Impossible to try to saye anything. ... The alarm brought only a lew onlookers to. i the scene, owing to the early hour. Those who were present, however, were powerless to> assist .in checking the spread of the fire, which simply burned the shops to the ground, reducing them to so much debris. The fire gradually burned itsoli out, though the ruins of the building continued to smoulder throughout the day. . A narrow section separated : the burning shops from another large block of shops and a motor garage, but fortunately the absence of wind prevented the flames reaching the second block, which was not affected. The causa of the fire is not known. Extent of the C&in&ga, The total damage is estimated at as high as £7000. The insurance on the six shops is £2500. The aggregate insurances on the stocks is understood to be about £2000. Mrs. Morrison estimates th* damage to her two shops at £1600, whila the stock ,is covered by a policy of £500. The insurance on the stock destroyed in Mr. Mahoney>'s grocery shop is £500. Mr, Smith's own ironmongery stock was insured in . the National office for £600. The fire not only gave a serious blow to the owners and occupiers of the shops, but will have a hampering effect on the township generally, as the position of they shops Avas a very good one. Hawthorne and Munro's shop was built about 10 years ago, the others having been erected &bou 4 , five years ago. Two telephone cables carried in front of the shops were burned. The effect was to cut off from? the local telephone exchange about 75 per cent, of she subscribers. The Auckland office was quicily advised and complete repairs we» made by half past four in the afternoon, when the circuit was restored, - 1