OUTBREAKS OF FIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19397, 4 August 1926, Page 10

OUTBREAKS OF FIRE.

TEAROOMS AT WHAKATANE. EMPLOYEE JUMPS FROM WINDOW. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WHAKATANE, Tuesday. A fire occurred in A. J. Canning's tearooms shortly before 11 o'clock last evening, resulting in the back portion of the premises, both upstairs and downstairs, being completely gutted. Mr. E. Macartney, a baker employed by the firm, had a very narrow escape. He was sleeping in the top storey of tho building and was awakened by smoke entering his room. Almost overcome by the fames he made for the window of an adjacent room and jumped to the ground, a distance of about 15ft. He was badly shaken. The fire brigade was qhickly on the scene and soon had a copious supply of water pouring on the burning building, thus confining the fire to the back part of the premises. The establishment formed part of a large block of wooden buildings and if it had not been for the efficient work of the brigade the whole block would have been burned. The fire appears to have originated in the vicinity of the chimney in the kitchen. The bakehouse near-by escaped without damage. The building was insured in the Stato Office. , FBIENDLY SOCIETIES' HALL. FLAMES QUICKLY SUPPRESSED. [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] TAUMAKUNUI, Tuesday. An outbreak of fire occurred in the United Friendly Societies' Hall last night. The flames were confined to the upper portion of the building arid were quickly suppressed upon the arrival of the fire brigade. The damage caused was not extensive. DESTRUCTION OF DWELLING. OCCUPANTS' HURRIED ESCAPE. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. r | TE AWAMUTU, Tuesday. A four-roomed dwelling on the Ohaupo Road, just outside the borough, owned by Miss Forkert, was destroyed by fire at midnight, and the occupants, Mr. R. Clark and family, had to make a hurried exit. The insurances, which were hold by tho ( State Office, were £175 on the dwelling and £3,50 on the furniture. POST OFFICE DESTROYED. NARROW ESCAPE OF .WOMAN. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] NEW PLYMOUTH, Tuesday. Fire completely destroyed the Lepperton post office early this morning. The office was situated in a private house of five or six rooms, owned by Mr. E. K Bain, who carried out tbft duties of postmaster. Though it is reported that Mrs. Baia narrowly escaped being suffocated, tho family got out of the house without any injuries of a serious nature. The rrgi3tered mail was not destroyed, but a small amount of ordinary mail matter was lost. Small loss was also suffered in the post office cash. At. no stage was there any hope of checking the -fire, which started shortly after midnight, as beyond tanks, there is no water supply in the township. The building was insured for £4OO in the Staite Office.