FIRES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3864, 3 April 1928, Page 30

FIRES.

EIGHT-ROOMED HOUSE DESTROYED J’AHIATUA, March 27. A fire at 1 o’clock this morning gutted an eight-roomed house owned by Mrs W. Eager, of Wellington, and occupied by Mr W. A. Tapp. The fire had a big hold, and the family, which included five young girls, escaped in their night attire. The insurance on the house is not available. The contents were insured for £2OO in the New Zealand office. OUTBREAK AT CAMBRIDGE. e CAMBRIDGE, March 27. . At about 3.30 this morning a block of old wooden buildings in Duke • street, owned by Messrs Broad and Broad, was partly destroyed by fire. The shop and premises occupied by Mr James Kidd, a saddler, and the rear living rooms,’ occupied by Mrs Radford, were completely destroyed. By the splendid efforts of the brigade, the portion of the buildings occupied by Messrs Broad and Broad, grocers and ironmongers, was saved, though the stock was slightly damaged; by water The insurances on the buildings were £740, and Messrs Broad and Broad’s stock was insured fo r £4OO, both in the Sun office. Mrs Radford’s household goods’.' were covered for £35 in the Northern office, but Mr Kidd’s stock, which was totally destroyed and was valued at £lBO, was not insured.

FIVE-ROOMED HOUSE DESTROYED. WELLINGTON, March 27. A five-roomed wooden house in Vogeltown was totally destroyed by fire shortly after 1 o’clock this morning. The house, which was occupied by George O’Connor and owned by Charlotte Elizabeth Brialey, was insured in the United office for £650, and the contents for £lOO in the Alliance office. A SPECTACULAR BLAZE. AUCKLAND,- April 1. One of the most spectacular fires in the history of Auckland . commenced at about 2 o'clock this afternoon in the benzine store of Winstone. Ltd., on the water front at Freeman’s Bay. A few minutes after the fire was noticed huge columns of smoke and flame were rising high in the air, being seen for miles around Thousands of spectators soon assembled to watch the outbreak Every available fireman was rushed to the scene, but owing to the intense heat little could be done except to save the adjacent buildings. When the roof of the store collapsed the flames shot 200 ft in the air The' fire is still burning fiercely, and is likely to continue for several hours. Two firemen named Walker and Beuth were admitted to hospital suffering from burns. The fire was still raging at midnight, and seems likely to continue for hours. By night the fire was very spectacular, and there were frequent explosions, resembling a fireworks display. The store contains nearly 500.000 cases of petrol. Tlie total loss is estimated at £50,000. Owing to the frequent explosions the firemen were unable to do more than attempt to confine the fire to the bulk store Large drums of ne*rnl contninin-> 50 gallons each frequently exploded, lighting up the city and herhmm. Thousands of spectators watched the flames until a late hour.