SERIOUS FIRE DAMAGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20986, 24 September 1931, Page 8

SERIOUS FIRE DAMAGE.

A HOKIANGA TOWNSHIP.

HOREKE BUILDINGS BURNED.

TWO LAUNCHES ALSO LOST.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WHANGAREI, Wednesday. A fire which seriously affected the business block of Horeke, near Kohukohu, on the Hokianga River, occurred on Saturday. Two dwellings, the store and post office, stood together on a platform supported by piles over the river, and these were destroyed. It, is thought that the fire was caused by the wind blowing down the tin chimney of the smaller house and scattering embers on the floor. It was mid-day and, although the outbreak %vas quickly detected, efforts to prevent the spread of 5 the flames to the store were unsuccessful. Fortunately, the tide was in and a bucket brigade did magnificent work. The fire in the smaller house was got in hand after damage estimated at £IOO had been done. The store was completely burned and Mr. H. G. Rose, owner of the whole block, was carrying a stock valued at £2500. The total insurance was approximately £3OOO in the Commercial Union Insurance Office. The post office, which was a new building, was destroyed. All the records were saved. The old post office is now being used. Three boats were tied to the piles and overlooked in the excitement. Two of these, a pleasure launch and a goods carrier, were burned and sunk. The homestead was separated from the store by two water-tanks. Holes were made in thein by the Maoris, and the water thus helped to save the residence. Mr. C. Kimber, of Whangarei, who was at Horeke, helped to fight the fire. He was burned about the forehead and arms. MOUNT EDEN OUTBREAK. FLATS SAVED BY BRIGADE. A good save was made by the Mount Eden Fire Brigade when a fire broke out at 6.38 a.m. yesterday in a two-storeyed building of 10 rooms at 63, View Road, Mounfc Eden. The occupier of the ground floor flat, Mrs. J. Clarke, had been cooking in the kitchenette of the unoccupied and par-tially-furnished upstairs flat. In her absence the room was ignited when some fat caught fire. * The flames were quickly subdued by the brigade and con-fined to the back portion of the flat. Damage was done by water to furniture on both floors. The building, which is owned by the Heath Estate, was insured for £750 in the Commercial Union Assurance Company, Limited, and the furniture in tha upper storey for £IOO in the same office. GORSE PATCH ON FIRE. POINT CHEVALIER SECTION. Fire broke out in a gorse patch en a section at the corner of Carrington Road and Fifth Avenue, Point Chevalier, at about 10.30 last evening. The flames were easily extinguished by the Point Chevalier Fire Brigade.