BLAZE IN GARAGE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17606, 23 October 1931, Page 5

BLAZE IN GARAGE

MANY VEHICLES DESTROYED STOCK DAMAGE £20,000 . (Per Press Association.) HASTINGS, this day. A large number of cars and trucks stored in the temporary premises of the Tourist Motor Co., Hastings, were destroyed in a lire which broke out at 1 o’clock this morning. The damage to the stock alone is estimated at £20,000. The vehicles were awaiting removal to tho company’s new permanent premises, built to replace tho building destroyed by the earthquako, and now almost ready for occupation. Though no particulars are available, it is reported that tho stock was only partly covered by insurance. It is considered that the company will bo heavy losers. The vehicles consisted largely of second-hand trucks and ears, but none was really old. The vehicles were of good makes, and ik good condition. In addition, there were several new cars brought back only last night from exhibition at the Hawke’s Bay Show. The building was owned by Mr. H. J. Hamlin, and was built of corrugated iron. Tho flames had a good hold when the alarm was given, and apparently had been raging for some time. It took an hour and a half, in spite of tho splendid work of tho brigade, to get the flames in check, and four leads of hose were used. Tho men were still at work at 9 o’clock this morning, when tho last of the lire was extinguished. The terrors of the blaze were added to by the explosions of benzine, and tho brigadesmen’s work was extremely dangerous owing to falling rafters and rod hot iron.

Tho last of the cars was put in at 5.30 p.tn., and everything was safe then, according to Mr. W. Ilyslop, the managing director, who says he cannot explain the cause of tho outbreak.