DESTRUCTION BY FIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19698, 26 July 1927, Page 10

DESTRUCTION BY FIRE.

BIG WELLINGTON BUILDING.

FIREMEN'S NARROW ESCAPE.

LIFT CRASHES DOWN WELL.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] WELLINGTON. Monday. Two firemen had a miraculous escape from sudden death during a fire which did several thousands of pounds' worth of damage to a building in Willis Street, at an early hour yesterday morning. The moil were working in the lift well, the lift being then at the third (ioor. Suddenly they saw a blinding flash from a fused electrical switch. They jumped clear just in timo to bo missed by tho heavy lift - as it crashed down the well. The building, which is at tho end of a blind avenue, is a brick three-storey structure occupied by Stokes' Sign Service, the Fluenzol Proprietary, Ltd., and Harringtons,, all of whom lost heavily. Sign-writing gear, chemical preparations, wireless apparatus and supplies were destroyed. The building is owned by Mr. H. D. Bennett, as is the one adjoining. The latter building, occupied by Miss Phyliss Bates and the Wellington Pleating Company, was damaged by fire and water. The outbreak made a spectacular picture, flames and dense smoke pouring from the windows and through the roof of the main building. The brigade concen trated on saving the neighbouring premises, which it succeeded in doing. The insurances include £4OO on the Fluenzol stock in the Northern Office, and £2OOO on Harringtons' stock in the Liverpool and London and Globe Office.

GENERAL STORE AND HOUSE.

PRACTICALLY NOTHING SAVED

[BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] GISBORNE, Monday. A general store at Motuhora, owned by Mr. Allan Spence, together with a house adjoining, were destroyed by fire. Little was saved from the. flames.

PREMISES AT TAHORA.

SHOP BURNED TO GROUND

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] NEW PLYMOUTH. Monday

A shop at Tahora, owned by Messrs. Rooney and Company, of Whangamomona, and occupied by Mr. H. H. Schwieters, was destroyed by fire at the week-end. The building was insured for £3OO in the Phoenix Office, and the stock for £7OO in the Queensland Office.

RESIDENCE AT MASTERTON

TWO ROOMS DESTROYED

[BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] MASTERTON. Monday. An eight-roomed wooden house owned by the estate of Mrs. W. Sellar and occupied by Mr. Samuel Minton was seriously damaged by fire this morning. The outbreak was observed shortly after a fire was lighted in the kitchen range. Two rooms were destroyed before the flames were extinguished. The house was insured for £SOO and the contents for £2OO.

PALMERSTON HOUSES BURNED.

DELAY IN SECURING WATER.

I [BY telegraph.—press ASSOCIATION. J PALMERSTON NORTH, Monday. .An outbreak of fire in Boundary Road East, at an early hour this morning, practically destroyed a house occupied by Mr. Miller. I [ Ihere are no water mains in the locality, j and the water'from the main in an adja- , cent street could not be used until another hose was secured from the fire station. ,In the meantime, an adjoining house, owned by Mr. Hastelow, caught fire, and was badly damaged before the flames were extinguished. An effort made to pump water from a well failed owing to the fire engine breaking through a crust of clay and becoming bagged. The firemen had a strenuous task to extricate the engine after the flames were subdued.

JWHANGAREI BUSINESS BLOCK.

BRIGADE QUELLS THE FLAMES

[Bi.;. TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WHANGAREI, Monday The Whangarei Fire Brigade was summoned at 4 o'clock this morning to Lower Cameron Street, where an old wooden building, known as Calkin's, and originally used as a flour mill, was on fire. Three small shops were affected, but the brigade had the flames subdued in a few minutes. The fire evidently started in a corner of a small room behind that occupied by Mrs. E. Newman as a confectionery shop. The flames burned a hole in the wall between "illat room and a shop recently vacated bjy Mr, C. Schon, bootmaker. When the firennen arrived the flames had a firm hold beiween the top of a door and the wooden -ceiling adjoining a restaurant. Mrs. BJcwman was in bed when the outbreak occurred and she was aroused by the night watchman knocking at the front door. Sfcte arose to find the room full of smoko and awakened others who were sleeping >in the same block. The buvlding; which is owned by Mr. R. G. Hulking, was insured.

DWEI2LING AT MOUNT EDEN.

HEAJVY LOSS INVOLVED.

An outbreak of fire occurred in a' fiveroomed house owned by Mrs. L. George and Mrs. Pitkeatley, in Sunnyside Road, Mount Edan, early yesterday morning. All the contents were destroyed, the rooms being completely gutted. Mr. , Pitkeatley, the onlv occupant, awoke to find the house in flames. The Mount Eden Fire Brigade, finding that it was impassible to saye the building, prevented the- flames from seriously damag ing the neighbouring houses, which wore slightly scorched. The dwelling was insured for £BSO in the National Insurance Office. The contents were nojfc insured, and the, owners are heavy losers.