BUSY FIRE BRIGADE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19386, 22 July 1926, Page 8

BUSY FIRE BRIGADE.

DAY OF NUMEROUS CALLS. THREE FALSE ALARMS GIVEN. Several outbreaks of fire occurred in Auckland yesterday. There was a slight outbreak of fire in the premises of Hugh Wright, Limited, in Queen Street early yesterday afternoon. It occurred in a room at the back of the building which was securely locked at the time. A passer-by heard a crackling sound and, looking through the keyhole. saw that the room was in flames. The door was broken open and the flames kept in check until the arrival of the brigade. A chemical hose was soon played on the flames which were extinguished without much damage being done. The room was empty at the time except for a box of rubbish in one oor.ner where it is thought the fire originatedFire broke out in a partially-built house at the corner of Bollard and Methuen Roads, Avondale, last evening. The Avondale brigade were successful in confining the flames to the rear of the building. One room and a scullery were partially destroyed and minor damage was done to the ceilings and walls. The outbreak was due to the igniting of an electric califont. An incipient outbreak occurred in a shed at the back of the premises of Irwin, chemist, Ponsonby Road, late last evening. The Western District Brigade received the alarm from a lady living next to the shop and were soon on the scene. A Ford van, which had been parked in the shed, escaped damage but some window frames were spoiled by the flames. Other calls received by the City Brigade last evening were to an outbreak in Foresters' Chambers, Wellesley Street, where a locker and contents were damaged, and to a fused electric cable in Ivarangahape Road. A further outbreak occurred in a locker in premises on the second floor of His Majesty's Arcade in Queen Street. Thre false alarms were also goven. One was from Upper Symonds Street, given as the result of smoke issuing from a building. Others were given from Summer Street, Ponsonby, and Hellaby's Buildings, Queen Street. GOVERNMENT BUILDING BURNED. LOSS OF VALUABLE INSTRUMENTS. [3Y TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] TAUMARUNUI, "Wednesday. An outbreak of fire destroyed a building at Matiere belonging to the Public Works Department at about 3 a.m. yesterday. The building, which comprised three rooms, built of very old and dry timber, was quickly levelled to the ground. Considerable losses were sustained by members of the staff, and a large number of valuable instruments were destroyed. Departmental records were also lost. BLAZE NEAR CAMBRIDGE. AN OLD, UNOCCUPIED HOUSE. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CAMBRIDGE. Wednesday. Fire last evening destroyed an old, 10roomed hoiise at Roto-o-rangi. The building, which was situated on a farm owned by Mr. Ambury, of was a delapidated structure, and had been unoccupied for a lengthy period. When observed by a nearby farmer the house was a mass of flames. FARMHOUSE DESTROYED, OCCUPANTS' HURRIED EXIT. [BY- TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] PUKEKOHE, Wednesday. A seven-roomed farm homestead, owned and occupied by Mr. A. H. Whitehead, about a mile from Buckland, on the Harrisville Road, was destroyed by fire last evening. Mr. W'hiteheaci awoke to find the building burning fiercely. He aroused the other occupants, and all escaped safely. Neighbours assembled and, forming a bucket brigade, saved the outhouses. The house and contents were insured, but it is understood that the owner's loss is heavy. The origin of the fire is not known.