DESTRUCTION BY FIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20642, 14 August 1930, Page 10

DESTRUCTION BY FIRE.

STORE. AND TWO HOUSES. NOISE AWAKENS SLEEPERS. [BY' TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Wednesday. There was a spectacular fire at Eastbourne early this morning. It broke out at one . o'clock in a store on the Marine Parade and completely gutted the store and two houses. The store was that of Mr. J. T. Gosson. The fire apparently .started in the ceiling, and the brigade, in spite of strenuous efforts, was unablei to get the flames under proper control!, owing to Eastbourne's poor water supply. A message was despatched to the city for help, and ■"pumping engine was sent out from the Thorndon fire station. The fire was quenched fifteen minutes after its arrival, with water from the harbour. Without the Thorndon brigade's aid the whole block of • houses would probably havo been lost. Besides Mr. Gosson's store the premises destroyed were the house o:f Mrs.- Ross and daughter, and ore owned by Mr. Morganti and occupied by Mr. P. Fitzgerald. A fourth house, only just reelected after being burnt three months ago, was badly scorched. When the fire broke out Mr. Gosson and his son were asleep on the premises and were awakened by the noise and smoke. Mrs. Gossen was absent at the time.