LOSS BY FIRE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23281, 25 February 1939, Page 15

LOSS BY FIRE

NEWMARKET PREMISES CONFECTIONERY BUILDINGS FACTORY BLOCK SAVED Fire practically destroyed a large two-storey wooden building and an adjoining single-storey wooden building owned by Browne Bros, and Geddes, Limited, confectionery manufacturers, off Manukau Road, Newmarket, about daybreak yesterday morning. Through tho efforts of the fire brigade portions of the walls were preserved, prompt measures saving the rest of the block of buildings owned by the company. It is thought that the fire originated in a storeroom containing boxes and crates, and when engines from the Central and Parnell stations arrived in response to a summons from a street alarm box at 4.50 a.m., the buildings wero burning fiercely, one wall having collapsed. Four leads of hose were promptly turned on the buildings, and although within five minutes the firemen had stopped the spread of the flames, it was about an hour before the fire was extinguished. The heat was very great, and great masses of smoke and flames attracted the notice of the Remuera station, which send an engine to the scene. Large burning embers falling in the back yards of houses, in George Street alarmed residents, but the brigade kept a close supervision in this quarter, and no harm was done. The buildings affected were used as storerooms for boxes and cartons, offices, engineers' workshop, and dressing and dining accommodation for the staff. Fortunately the premises used for manufacturing were not affected. A tribute to the measures taken by the brigade was paid by Mr. C. G. Macindoe, managing-director of the company, who said that had a southerly wind been blowing the damage would undoubtedly have been more extensive. The two buildings affected were insured for £IOOO and the contents for £IBOO, both with Lloyds. DESTRUCTION OF TAXI OUTBREAK WHILE TRAVELLING [by telegraph—owx correspondent] PAEROA, Friday A taxi operated by Mr. J. Brankine was destroyed by tire near Karangaliake. The only occupant at tho time was the driver. Mr. Brankine was proceeding along the Waihi-Paeroa road when he noticed smoke and flames issuing from the dashboard He had only sufficient time to pull up at the side of the road and get out of the vehicle before it burst into flames.