FIRES IN ROTORUA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21729, 19 February 1934, Page 10

FIRES IN ROTORUA

RETAIL BLOCK AFFECTED r ■ - STATIONER'S SHOP BURNED DAMAGE TO OTHER PREMISES [iJY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] KOTORUA, Sunday A destructive fire broke out at four o'clock this morning in a block of buildings in Arawa Street consisting of premises occupied by Pratt and Company, Limited, stationers, the Farmers' Trading Company, a shop lately occupied by Mr. A. French but now unoccupied, and the Lavender tea rooms. When discovered the fire had a good hold of Pratt and Company's shop and it quickly spread to the adjoining premises of the Farmers' Trading Company, the partition wall and the ceiling of the latter being badly damaged and the stock affected by smoke and water. The fire then crossed under the roof of the unoccupied shop and broke out in the ceiling of the Lavender tea rooms, where damage was caused by smoke and water.

The fire brigade was unable to save Pratt's premises, which were completely burned out and all stock and fixtures destroyed, but by good work were able to prevent the fire from destroying the other buildings. Pratt and Company were covered in tho British Traders' Insurance Company for £ooo, but are heavy losers. Insurances 011 two of the buildings were with tho Sun Office for £2OOO. The other insurances are not available.

ANOTHER FIRE LAST EVENING OUTBREAK OCCURS IN TEAROOMS [by telegrafh—OWN correspondent] ROTORUA, Sunday Another outbreak occurred at 11.15 this evening in premises on the corner of Arawa and Eenton Streets, only a short distance away from the scene of this morning's fire. The building involved was a wooden one, of two storeys, and flames were seen issuing from the rear of the top floor, occupied by the Anza Tearooms, about half and hour after the proprietor, Mr. George Hatch, had left the premises. The flames had a firm hold when the brigade arrived, but after a strenuous fight for 20 minutes, the firemen gained control and effected a good save. The back portion of the tearooms was burned out, and considerable damage was caused by water and smoke. The premises beneath the tearooms, occupied by Mr. R. S. Miller, a men's outfitter, were considerably damaged by water, which poured through the ceiling and flooded the floor. Stock was extensively damaged. It is a coincidence that a fire occurred in the tearooms about three years ago, with similar damage to Mr. Miller's stock from water.

No estimate of the loss caused by this evening's outbreak, or details of insurances, were available to-night.