£8000 FIRE LOSS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23482, 20 October 1939, Page 8

£BOOO FIRE LOSS

WAREHOUSE PEOrEKTY CHRISTMAS STOCKS BURNED MUCH STRUCTURAL' DAMAGE [BY TKT.KGUAI'H —I'Jt ESS association] CHMSTCHURCH, Thursday A warehouse property known as Marriners' Building, in Madras Street, was considerably damaged by fire about mid-day. The loss is estimated at between £7OOO and £BOOO. The principal damage was done on the top floor, where the importing firm of Messrs. David At. Bain and Sons lost much of its large Christmas stocks. The building is owned by Mr. Bain and is of two storeys.. The fire was first noticed about 12.20 p.m. at< the back of the top floor and it was soon out of control. Within a few minutes the brigade arrived and, running leads through several windows, kept the flames down, although there was a heavy volume of smoke throughout the building. Within half an hour the fire was well under control. The top floor was burned out and the ground floor much damaged by water. The basement, occupied by Mr. C. H. Lucking, wholesale fruiterer, was damaged by water. Messrs. Bain and Sons' Christmas stocks had just arrived and were being unpacked. They consisted of fancy goods, books, toys and crockery.

WANGANUI OUTBREAK CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS [IIY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRKSPONDEXT] WANGANIJI, Thursday A fire which broke out at an early hour to-day partially gutted the Wanganui City Council Chambers. Much damage was done b\ T smoke and water in the engineer's department and many plans and drawings were burned. When the alarm was given by the caretaker the fire had a strong hold and on arrival the firemen were set a difficult task. The insurance on the building was £I4OO. The fittings were insured for £445.