GRANDSTAND FIRE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24136, 1 December 1941, Page 6

GRANDSTAND FIRE

SUSPICIOUS FEATUEES ' HASTINGS RACECOURSE DULL EXPLOSION HEARD (0.C.) HASTINGS, Sunday A large wooden grandstand of the Havvke's Bay Jockey Club was destroyed by fire which started shortly after 11 o'clock to-night. The flames lyere not extinguished by midnight. The fire has several suspicious features and inquiries are being made by the police. Approximately half an hour before the fire was noticed a false alarm was given from a street box in another section of the town. The brigade had just returnod from this alarm when the racecourse alarm was received. Residents in the vicinity were awakened by what they described as a dull explosion. Within a minute one end of the stand was a mass of flames, which quickly spread and enveloped the whole of the large structure. The roof collapsed within 20 minutes of the fire being first noticed. Emergency Precautions Service workers gave valuable aid to the firemen. in. controlling the crowds of spectators . The fire recalls the destruction of the Waipukurau Jockey Club's stand several months ago, when it was stated that the fire was due to arson. No estimate of the loss to the Hawke'a Bay club had been arrived at to-night. £20,000 DAMAGE HARDWARE STOREROOM GOODS HARD TO REPLACE (0.C.) PALMERSTON NORTH, Saturday 7 Damage estimated at over £20,000 was caused by a fire which occurred in the main storeroom of Collinson and Sons, hardware merchants, in Broadway shortly after midnight. The brigade confined the flames to a comparatively small area by fighting them from both Broadway and King Street, but the cramped conditions in which the men worked made their task more difficult. Mr. H. C. Collinson, managingdirector of the firm, said much of the stock, the main portion of which consisted of small hardware items in general use, would be extremely difficult to replace. There was nothing to show how the fire started. The usual inspection was made before the store was closed last night and everything was then in order. The electrical installations were in good repair. The fire gave little indication of its damaging nature. The alarm was given by Constable J. G. Gunn, who was the first on the scene of the Speight tragedy last Tuesday, and when the brigade arrived the firemen attacked the flames from the corrugated iron roof of the reinforced concrete store building, and with leads of hose from King Street. Water was played through the skylights, and little more could be seen from the street than clouds of smoke. Neighbouring buildings escaped damage and the outbreak was extinguished after an hour's fight, although firemen were retained until 7 a.m. to deal with small pockets of smouldering stock. The stock and storeroom were insured for £19,000 with Llovds.