FIRES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3756, 9 March 1926, Page 37

FIRES.

BLAZE AT GERA!-DINE. TIMARU, March 6. Fire this morning completely gutted the main store of the Canterburj Farmers* Co-operative Association at Gera*.one. The fire broke out in the drapery department' and rapidly spread through other departments, only a small quantity of groceries being salvaged. The machinery department and grain stores adjoining were saved. The building was insur d in the South British Office for £27,800. GARAGE TOTALLY DESTROYED. TIMARU, March 6. Early this afternoon a motor garage af Geraldine, owned by Mr H. W. Wade, was totally destroyed. The fire brigade turned out, but little could be done owing to the inflammable nature of the garage’® contents. The plant was insured for £250 and the building for £IOO. GRAND STAND BURNT. GREYMOUTH, March 4. A destructive fire started at 1.20 p.m* in the main grand stand belonging to the trotting club at Victoria Park. The grand stand was built in 1923, and it covered an area of 150 ft by 36ft and was a ferroconcrete structure. It was speedily con* verted into a vast furnace, and in 40 minutes the whole of the internal wooden structure was demolished. The thick iron stanchions and girders were twisted like wire, only the walls remaining. The damage is estimated at £13,000, and the insurances total £BOOO. The fire is believed to have started in a disused part beneath the seats at the southern end. A southerly wind drove the flames through the structure, render* ing salvage work impossible. The cause of the outbreak is a mystery. OUTBREAK ,ijl KOHU KOHU. AUCKLAND, March 5. A disastrous fire, resulting in the total demolition of seven buildings near the waterfront, occurred at Kohu Kohu, on the Hokianga Harbour, late last night. The fire, which burned for five hours, destroyed a section of the telegraph and telephone lines, and, though the service was partly restored this aftern. n, great difficulty was experienced last evening in communicating with Kohu Kohu, which ia over 150 miles from Auckland. From the meagre information available it was gathered that the fire broke out at 11 o’clock last night, presumably in the premises of Messrs Cooper and Son, storekeepers. Although the night waa very calm, the fire blazed with great vigour, and spread at an amazing rate. The town does not possess a water reticulation service, and there is no brigade, but the residents turned out in full force, and a bucket brigade was organised and w r ater obtained from the harbour near by; was poured on the blazing buildings. This, however, had little effect on the fire, which, in turn, destroyed the premises of the Bank of New South Wales, the publio library, the courthouse, Mrs Shelford’s tea and dining rooms, the hall, which waa used as a sample room, and a building at the back.