RAILWAY STATION FIRE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22469, 13 July 1936, Page 8

RAILWAY STATION FIRE

GOODS OFFICE IN FLAMES DAMAGE AT CHRISTCHURCH [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION*] CHRISTCHURCH, Sunday A fire of unknown origin gutted the inward section of the goods office at the Christchurch railway station earlf this evening. Current records were lost and office furniture destroyed. The full extent of the damage has not yet been assessed, but the office will be disorganised for at least a week. The building where the fire occurred is a detached one at the west end of the railway platform fronting Moorhouse Avenue. The flames had a strong hold when the fire was discovered, and the brigade confined the fire to the inward office. But for the brigade's Rood work the whole goods office building would have been burned.

WAIUKU HOUSE BURKED FIRE ENGINE DELAYED [from our own correspondent] PCKEKOHE, Saturday Delayed' because an overhead rail* way bridge was under repair, the fire engine called to a house in Victoria Avenue, Waiuku, on Thursday morning was unable to check the flames until only one room of seven was left standing. In the meantime, the owner of the house, Mr. C. J. West, had been vainly attempting to stem the outbreak with buckets of water. Mr. West discovered the fire when he opened the cupboard containing the hot water service. He telephoned the fire brigade and then began to throw water on tho flames. When the engine arrived, after having made a long detour, the flames had a strong hold, and by the time the fire was extinguished. the house was gutted. Mr. West succeeded in saving some clothing and bedding from the front rooms and a few small belongings. The house was insured for £6OO and the contents for £275 with the New Zealand office.