FOUR SHOPS BURNED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20993, 2 October 1931, Page 10

FOUR SHOPS BURNED.

MAIN STREET OF OPUNAKE. BUCKET BRIGADES FORMED. VOLUNTEER HELPER INJURED. TOWN'S UNFORTUNATE RECORD. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] NEW PLYMOUTH, Thursday. Fire destroyed a block of four shops in the main street of Opunako early this morning. The premises comprised two shops owned by Mr. T. Hickey, of Auckland, and occupied, by M'is. Newport, draper, and Mr. G. Tucker, hairdresser, and tobacconist, a shop owned by Mr. S. Norcross, of Wellington, and occupied by Mr. J. Morris, grocer, and a shop owned by Mr. M. Hickey, and occupied by Mr. A. McLean, draper. Mrs. Newport, who resided in the back portion of her premises, was awakened shortly before 2 a.m. and found the back rooms of Mr. Tucker's premises, adjoining, on fire. Sho gave tho alarm, and, there being no brigade, willing helpers quickly assembled, but owing to the rapid spread of the flames, they were able to remove little from any of the shops. Efforts were concentrated on removing material from buildings fur!her up the street, which were separated from the burning block by a right of way. Fortunately it was found possible to rcmovo three lorry loads of goods from tho bulk fctoro at the back of Mr. Morris' premises, and also the whole of his books and files.

Bucket brigades were formed and, with a" meagre supply of water from tanks close by, excellent work was done in the stifling heat. Although the newspaper offico and Wai Yep and Company's shop were in danger -«f igniting, the flames, after some hours' work, were prevented from spreading. The work of the emergency fire-fighters was most praiseworthy, and all felt the effects of tho heat. Mr. J. Crofskey, ope of the volunteers, slipped on a roof top and dislocated one ot his shoulders. About two months ago an outbreak of fire occurred in the same block, and on that occasion Mr. Tucker, who was at that time living at the back of his shop, extinguished tho flames at an early stage. The town has a most unenviable record, having had no fewer than 11 premises destroyed by fire in the past three weeks. This number includes seven cottages on Opunako Beach. COTTAGE DESTROYED. OUTBREAK AT NIHOTLTU. Fire destroyed a four-roomed unoccupied cottage on tho Forest Hill Road, Nihotupu, four miles from Henderson, early yesterday morning. No fire-fighting facilities were available. The house was owned by Mr. J. F. W. Dickson, of Auckland. It had recently been occupied, tho last tenant having left about a fortnight ac;o. Tho building was insured for £450 in the Standard Of lice.