SPECTACULAR FIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19625, 2 May 1927, Page 8

SPECTACULAR FIRE.

VALUABLE LAUNCH LOST. burned at kohimarama. PARTY JUST LANDED AT WHARF. BRIGADE POWERLESS TO HELP. The motor-launch Edna White, one of the best-known of the hire passenger craft in Auckland, and valued at over £2OOO, was completely destroyed in a spectacular fire at fcohimarama wharf on Saturday evening. The owner, Captain G. H. White, had just stepped on to the wharf after the disembarkatioa of a party fror.i the city about half-past eight, when he saw the launch was on fire amidships. He jumped back into the cockpit, but upon opening the cabin door found the interior to bo a roaring furnace. He was obliged to seek the safety of the wharf before the beuzine tanks exploded. The St. *Helicrs fire brigade was powerless to render assistance since the blazing launch, even when towed to the beach, was beyond reach of the hose. With great rapidity the flames, fed by the benzine, enveloped the whole of the boat and lit up a large area of the waterfront and harbour, attracting many people to the beach. The launch burned for several hours, becoming a total loss. The cause of the lira is thought to have been caused by the fusing of an electric wive over one of the benzine tanks. Details of insurances were not available last evening. The Edna White was a two-mastod 40ft. launch, with a cruiser stern, and was built in Auckland in 1912. She was formerly owned by Mr. H. Adams and shfi was known as the Arita,, being run as a pleasure boat. She was of 15 tons gross register, with a beam of lift. 3in. t and depth of 3ft. sin., and was propelled by a 48 h.p. engine, which cost £6OO. POST OFFICE AND STORE. DESTROYED IN 2$ MINUTES. DEFECT IN A CHIMNEY. [by telegraph.—press association.] WELLINGTON. Sunday. The post office and store at Pahautanui was burned on Friday evening. The building was demolished in 20 minutes and nothing was saved. The money and postal orders were locked in tho safe, but the mails wore burned. The cause of the fire was a defective chimney. The insurances total under £IOOO all told. The owner of the store and postmaster, Mr. S. Gough, hacl been there only four months. Ho is a considerable loser. A SMALL ROTORUA BLAZE. GOOD WORK. BY BRIGADE. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN OORRESrONnENr "! HOTORUA. Batutda7. A firo broke out in a storeroom and workshop in connection with Arawa House just before six o'clock this morning. Some soot had been taken from the chimneys yesterday and left in tho storeroom. This, it is thought, may have caused the firo. Tho buildings wore well ablaze when the brigade arrived, but the outbreak was quickly extinguished. Tho damago is estimated at about £6O. OUTBREAK AT WAEHI. GOOD WORK BY THE BRIGADE. fBl" TELEURArn.—own correspondent.] WAIHI. Saturday. An outbreak of fire occurred this afternoon in a five-roomed residence in Barry Road, occupied by Mr. A, Hutton. The fire start-jd in the kitchen between the lining and the weatherboards. The brigade was quickly on the scene and made a good "save. The house was insured for £l6O in the Phoenix office, and the contents for £l5O, of which £IOO was in the Alliance office, and £SO in the State office. The damago is estimated at not more than £2G.