DESTRUCTION BY FIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20075, 12 October 1928, Page 12

DESTRUCTION BY FIRE.

SERIOUS DAMAGE AT OAMARU BUSINESS BLOCK IN FLAMES. HARD TASK FOR BRIGADE. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PBKSS ASSOCIATION.] OAMARU. Thursday. The biggest fire in Oamaru for nearly ten years occurred at 4.30 this morning in the Waitaki Buildings, a two-storeyed structure in Thames Street, owned by Mr. W. Aikenhead, draper. The damage is estimated at £BOOO. Mr. Aikenhead's shop was gutted and his stock destroyed; Mr. 11. Grenfcll's mercery stock was badly damaged by water; Mr. J. Martyn's cycle and sporting stock was damaged by water; and Mr. L. Frame's hairdresser's stock and fittings were destroyed. The Misses Cartwright's threo pianos, furniture and music were destroyed. The stock, furniture and fittings of Mr, J. Gunning, tailor, Mrs. Gibson, dressmaker, and Mr. W. Brown, commission ugent, were destroyed. The fire ,is believed to have started at lihe rear of tho building, and a heavy wind made the fire brigado's work very .bard. The insurances are: —Mr. Aikenhe-ad, £4OOO on the building, in tho National Office, and £3200 on the stock, iu the New Zealand and Standard Offices; Mr. Grenfell, £ISOO on the stock, in tho Sun, New Zealand and South British Offices; Mr. Martyn, £575 on stock and plant; Mr. Cartwright, £245 on the furniture, with the South British Office; and Mr. Frame, £l5O. Messrs,. Highway, Brown, Gibson and Gunning had their fittings insured for about £l5O each. Mr. Aikenhead will be a heavy loser.

NGAERE SCHOOL BURNED.

CHILDREN MARCH OUT QUICKLY.

[BV TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] ELTHAM, Thursday.

The Ngacrc school, a three-roomed building, -was destroyed by fire this morn-

Tho outbreak occurred in the ceiling above a stove pipe in the infant pupils' room at 11.5, and within an hour, owing to a strong wind, nothing was left but a brick chimney. The children, who were at lessons, responded to the call of fire drill smartly and marched outside.

The school records, a piano and soma pupils' books were saved. Tho building was nearly half a century old.