COOKE'S BUILDING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22009, 16 January 1935, Page 10

COOKE'S BUILDING

FLAMES ENTER WINDOWS i " MINOR OUTBREAKS OCCUR MANY TENANTS SUFFER STOCK AND FITTINGS DAMAGED Whon the fire burst through the roof of Woohvorth's premises the flames swept up the northern wall of the tall building of W. 11. Cooke and Son, Limited, adjoining. The glass in all the windows on that side of Cooke's Building was broken and in many cases the flames set fire to the contents of rooms occupied ,by tenants on the lowerfloors, while the intense heat and in some cases sparks caused minor o\itbreaks in rooms on the higher levels. Many of these tonaijts did not have their furnishings and stock covered by insurance and their losses will be fairly heavy. The main tea room on tho ground floor and the large dining room on tho first floor were not badly affected. There were many diners in these rooms when the fire started and while some of them left wlien smoke entered the building most of them returned and finished their meal. Silk Importer's Loss

The manager of the building, Mr. M. A. Murray, and his staff did all that was possible to protect the property of the tenants. At one stage tho flames were coming through the small stair lights at each floor and there was some difficulty in moving from floor to floor. In some places mats and rugs were placed over the shattered windows to keep the flames back. The helpers were able to remove some of tho more perishable stock to safety. On tho second floor most of the stock of Mr. S. Lephert, tailor and furrier, was removed, but the furnishings of the fitting room wer<3 severely damaged by fire and water. Mr. George Allan, silk importer, had three rooms with stocks of valuable silks and silk goods. One room, which had no window on the fire 6ide, escaped almost completely, except for some slight smoke damage, while another had the window broken, while the frock room was burned. Mr. Allan estimated his loss at abput £250. All his stocks wero insured with thei South British Insurance Company for £SOO. There was comparatively little damage on the third floor, but the furnishings of the offices of the Equitable Loan Company were affected by water and smoke. The worst of thd damage in this building was done on tho fourth floor in the three rootos occupied by Beltona, Limited, where stocks of chemicals were kept. In one of these rooms a large* stock of medicine burned furiously and the room was completely gutted, while t;he office was damaged by heat and water. On the same floor the stocks and furnishings of "Jocelyn," gown specialist, were damaged by the heat and smoke.

Furniture Spoiled Serious damage was also done in the rooms of Madame Aimee, beauty specialist, whose salon was almost completely wrecked. Settees, lounges and rugs in the ante room were badly damaged by fire and the dressing tables and fittings in the workrooms were almost completely spoiled. Tho rooms of Miss Wilkinson Smith, millinery specialist, adjoining were also damaged by fire and water. On the same floor are the rooms of Mr. J. W. Yarnall, solicitor; "Mabs," a dress specialist; and Mr. E. Tburlow Field, solicitor, but in these the damage was not great. On the next floor some damage by heat and water was done to the stock and plant of Miss Eileen O'Keefe, gown maker. Even at the height of the seventh floor the heat broko the windows of the Do Luxe Billiard Parlours and sparks poured through the openings. Mr. W. Paul and his assistants tore the curtains down and covered the 11 billiard tables in an effort to save tho valuable baize coverings. They had an anxious time in extinguishing sparks and burning particles as they fell on tho tables, and they had the fear that their escape might at any time be cut off. A Fortunate Circumstance Mr. Murray said tho fireproof nature of tho structure minimised the damago to the building. Kepairs would consist mainly of the replacement of a largo area of window glass on tho northern side of the building, while a few of tho steel window frames were buckled by the heat. A fortunate circumstance was that the large ammonia plant at the rear of the restaurant, used in connection with tho preparation of ice creams and cold dishes, was not reached by tho fire. This was on tho ground floor, just through tho wall from tho worst of the fire, but as there were no openings in the side wall and tho heat from the flames was sweeping upward, tho plant escaped damage. A lire there might have had serious consequences. SERIOUS LOSS AVOIDED THE IMPERIAL BUILDINGS OUTBREAK QUICKLY CHECKED In comparison with Cooke's Building, the block of offices and shops on the other side of Woolworth's premises, Imperial Buildings, escaped very lightly. Little structural damage was caused and only one tenant suffered serious loss. Tho building is of five storeys, and the upper two have windows overlooking Woolworth's stores. It was through the windows on the top storey that the fire gained a hold when part of the roof of Woolworth's collapsed and flames shot up with torrific force and heat. Within a few moments the windows in tho negative room of Mr. Alan Blakey's photographic studio had been shattered by the intense heat. Tho caretaker of tho building, Mr. S. Taylor, broke into tho studio nnd with the aid of a number of willing workers checked tho outbreak until the brigadesmcn coukl bring a lead of hose to the floor. The most serious damage was that caused smoke wnd water to Mr. Blakey's photographic plates. Tho cameras and most of tho equipment wore saved. Tho Roxy Theatre, which is adjacent to Woolworth's Building, escaped. Thick concrete walls nnd an absence of windows overlooking Woolworth's wero largely responsible for saving the building. A performance was in progress when tho fire broke out. Ushers wero sent through tho theatre quietly advising members of the audience, who left and wero issued with passes for use at other theatres controlled by Amalgamated Theatres, Limited.