AN EARLY MORNING FIRE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20319, 30 January 1928, Page 8

AN EARLY MORNING FIRE.

DAMAGE IN BUSINESS BLOCK. A fire broke out in the premises occupied by Mr G. W. Reilly, tailor, in Princes street, early yesterday morning. When discovered the outbreak had a firm hold in the rear portion of the building, and two workrooms were badly damaged before the brigade, which received the call at 2.32 n.m., was able to subdue the flames. About 10 different firms occupy this particular block, and had the flames been given an opportunity to -spread very extensive damage might have been done. In the circumstances the brigade made a very meritorious save. The promises occupied by Messrs F. and R. Woods, drapers, on the ground floor, suffered some damage by water, but the use of sawdust and salvage sheets greatly minimised the damage to the stock. A room occupied by Mr A. G. Neill solicitor was slightly damaged, and the Civic billiard room on the top floor suffered slightly through smoke. The firemen experienced some difficulty in locating the seat of the fire on account of the smoke and the position of the outbreak It was necessary to make an enrancc’ by breaking in three doors, and when this had been done a lead of water was brought up the stairway from the front of the building. Once the fire was located, however, it was quickly oxtmF. and R. Wood’s stock is insured with the Victoria and United offices, but the amount was not ascertainable yesterday. No particulars wro available as to insurances- on Mr Reilly’s stock. ANOTHER EARLY OUTBREAK. At 146 a.m. yesterday the brigade received a call to the corner of Albany and Cumberland streets, where a fire had broken out in an unoccupied shop. Unly a window shutter was damaged. CONFECTIONERY FACTORY ABLAZE. GREAT DAMAGE TO STOCK AND PLANT. (Special to Daily Times.) AUCKLAND, January 20. Damage to machinery, stock, and fit-tin-s estimated at £OOOO resulted from a fire" which broke out m the factory portion of the building occupied by Messrs C. G. Laurie and Co., confectionery and biscuit manufacturers, Stanley street, yesterday afternoon. The portion where the sweets are made was completely destroyed, great damage being caused in the biscuitmaking section. . . .i i r a The alarm was given shortly before 4 o'clock by some men who were working near by. When. the City and Parnell Fire Brigades arrived on the scene flames and dense masses f smoke were issuing through the roof at the oack of the bunding. Some difficulty was experienced in getting at the seat of the outbreak, but the firemen were aided greatly by a good flow of water. , . , . The building is a two-storey brick structure. and it is thought that the fire started on the first floor just above the ovens. Sugar and other highly inflammable material used in the factory added fuel to the flames, and soon the first storey was a roaring inferno. Before tnc brigades subdued the flames the roof fell in with a loud crash, adding to the chaos. Dense masses of steam rose from the reel hot machinery as the water played on it. The building was closed at mio-day, and it is thought that the fire must have started some time before it was noticed. The brigades made an excellent save. At first it was feared that the floor between the first and second storeys would collapse. The store rooms next to the tactorv were fortunately saved. Considerable damage resulted to the stock from " "xiie' factory contained much valuable machinery, and the damage to this is estimated at £3OOO. The other damage is confined to the fittings and stock. The plant is insured with the South British Company for £12,000, ano the factory is covered for £2500 in the .New Zealand Company and for £4500 in the South British. OUTBREAK IN HOTEL. RAPID SPREAD OF FLAMES. (Peu United Press Association.) NAPIER, January 29. Shortly after 4.30 o’clock this afternoon fire broke out in the Empire Hotel, a three-storeyed brick building opposite the post office. The outbreak apparently originated at the rear, near the kitchen, and within a few minutes the whole ,ot the top floor was a raging furnace. The brigade is faced with an npliill fight, and there appears to be little chance of saving th •> hotel from being completely gutted. The hotel is one of between 40 and oO rooms, and the licensee, Mr A. M. Herbert, has only' been in occupation for a few mouths. ” A number of guests were staying at the hotel besides several permanent boarders, but even those who were in the building when the outbreak was discovered did not get clear with all their belongings so quickly did the flames travel, whilst practically all of those who were out for the day lost everything. The licensee will ho a heavy loser.