TWO SHOPS GUTTED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27390, 16 May 1950, Page 4

TWO SHOPS GUTTED

Destructive Port Chalmers Fire The township of Port Chalmers experienced one of its most serious fires for many years yesterday afternoon when, with little warning to the occupants of the buildings, flames roared through two shops in George street and a dwelling at the rear and gutted most of the interior. The shops were a modern-appointed pharmacy owned by Mr J. Matthews—who is at present on holiday in Kaikoura—and a small adjoining drapery establishment which was taken over only a day or two ago by Mr and Mrs C. Boon, who recently arrived in Port Chalmers to start a new business. The house at the back of the shop premises was occupied by Mrs R. A. Ford and her granddaughter, Miss P. Milnes, who were not at home when the fire was discovered. The alarm was sounded about 4.20 and Port Chalmers volunteer firemen fought the fire tirelessly for about an hour and a-half.

Crowds gathered in George street to watch the fire and a thick pall of smoke hung over the town. Occasionally flames jumped from the roof and the fire glowed' angrily. Although fears were held for the collapse of the iron roofing, the structure held together. Soon after 5 o’clock, the brigadesmen had a good hold on the fire, but further large quantities of water—drawn from four leads out of an eight-inch main—were poured into the buildings until a halt was finally called about 7.30 p.m. From impressions given to a Daily Times reporter by people who saw the fire in its early stages, it appears that the blaze began in the basement at the rear of the drapery shop. Miss E. Lawson, Mr Matthews’s assistant, and Mr I. Scott, the chemist relieving Mr Matthews while on holiday, were in the dispensary at the rear of the shop when Miss Lawson noticed the smell of burning. They went through a curtain dividing the dispensary from a small office and saw smoke curling through the floor hoards. Mr Scott immediately went for a bucket of water and told Miss Lawson to get the brigade. As Miss Lawson - hurried through the shop she heard the ominous sound of crackling beneath the floor and wreaths of smoke drifted upwards. “It was only a matter of minutes before the fire broke out into the open,” she said. Although the frontage of the two shops was modernised by Mr Matthews when he purchased the properties a few years ago, the main structure is an old wooden building with a corrugated iron roofing. Once the flames began to lick through the floor—and the blaze must have gained a good hold before Miss Lawson and Mr Scott noticed the smoke —the fire became serious, and for the next hour and a-half the brigadesmen had difficulty in confining the fire to the two shops. Miss Lawson and Mr Scott were not able to save much before they were driven out of the shop by the heat. A typewriter, a cashbox and some clothes were all that they could take, and most of the stock must have been a complete loss. Firemen had an unenviable job, as fumes arose from burning chemicals and sharp explosions rent the air. Firemen and townspeople gave a willing hand to shift as much stock as posible from Mr Boon’s drapery shop and in very few minutes there was an assorted collection of goods piled on the main street. It was a tragic beginning for the new venture that Mr and Mrs Boon had chosen for themselves in New Zealand. It is understood that they came to New Zealand from England only a few weeks ago and had taken over the shop from the previous occupant, Mrs Kennard, last Saturday. Shop in Danger In the early stages of the fire, the brigade superintendent, Mr J. McElwee, was concerned for the safety of the neighbouring confectionery shop owned.by Mr W. D. Mead. Only a plaster wall separated the two shops, and Mr Mead soon had helpers shifting stock across to the other side of the shop. The great volume of water directed by the firemen against the wall, however, prevented the flames from spreading. The occupant of the old wooden house at the rear of the burning shops, Mrs Ford, was out visiting when she heard the alarm. Helped by her granddaughter and other volunteers, she removed as much of- her furniture and personal effects as possible before the task became hopeless. The salvaged furniture, much of which was "damaged by smoke, was stacked in the mud behind the house. Mrs Ford, who bote the ordeal bravely, said that the two of them would stay the night with her married daughter. The Port Chalmers volunteer firemen did an outstanding job under considerable stress and their prompt measures and tenacity undoubtedly prevented more extensive damage. Details of insurances were not available last night.