AUCKLAND FIRE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10210, 21 February 1919, Page 5

AUCKLAND FIRE

J IDENTITY OF g ™iM ESTABPress Association. AUCKLAND, February 30. ' The victim of the fire 3 t the Thames TTntfll was William McGinn, agedsistySS,TnS?y. of Ireland, who canie to Auckland this week t™m T a ibape. P N. Jones, a returned soldier, from Stratford, was badly burned on one ifoot Mrs P- N. Jones Earned 'burn on the chest, chin, and right arm, and *is suffering" from shock. I "lie room in which McGinn was sleeping was situated on the third floor, at the end of the long corridor. A fireman, finding the door blocked OTshedit, and found a washstand wedged between the bed and the door. The body of deceased was discovered m a kreeting attitude on the floor. One hand was clutching the bedstead. The room' possessed a hre escape. " is thought McGinn was blinded by smoke, overlooked the escape, and, rushing to the door, moved the washstand, and barred his only other means of escape. Another occupant of the same room, James Reid, states, that he and the deceased arrived last Tuesday from Taihape, where they had been fencing for Lowry and Watts, about five miles from the town. Last night Reid went to a picture theatre, leaving McGinn at the hotelP. N. Jones, of Stratford, and ms wife, occupied a room on the Queen (street front of the first floor. They were awakened by falling glass. The husband looked into the passage and saw flames apparently bursting from the ceiling. He was in his trousers and shirt. He had made his way some distance down the passage when he realised that his wife had r->t followed him. He rushed back, and found her in a state approaching collapse. Gathering her in his arms, hefought his way down the passage through eighteen feet of flames and falling debris to the ground floor. , . J. C. GciTard, storekeeper at Rangiriri, and wife, were in a room on the top floor. They were compelled to get out by means of a firo-escapo-They had just gone to Iwd, when they noticed a smell of burning, and smoke come pouring into their room. Rushing to a window, Gerrard, clad in a kinglet, climbed to the firo escape and aided his wife out. The insurances on the hotel total over £10,750, while there is also a policy against rent losses, which cannot be estimated. The figures of the insurances on the stock and fittings aro not ascertainable. It is difficult to assess the amount of the damage, but the two top floors are practically ruined, and the ground floor is flooded inches deep .with water. Young's mercery shop, next door, was heavily damaged by water. It is insured tor £3OO. Evans's (fruiterer) was also damaged by water. It is insured for £2OO.