BLAZE IN CHRISTCHURCH

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18234, 1 November 1933, Page 4

BLAZE IN CHRISTCHURCH

LARGE BUILDING AFIRE BRIGADE’S DIFFICULT TASK (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, last night. A lire broke out late to-night in a four-storey building in Hereford street in the heart of the city. The building was occupied by 35 tenants, chief among them being Chandler ami Company, advertising agents, and Weston Bros,, leather merchants. 'The owners arc Mae Gibbons Buildings, Limited. The alarm was received by the brigade at 10.7)0 o’clock, and when it arrived at the (ire a few moments later the top floor of the building was ablaze, and it was at once apparent that the brigade would not be able to extinguish the flames easily or speedily. Indeed, against the, efforts of the firemen, the flames spread rapidly at the bat k of the building. The fire soon involved all floors am! the roof fell. At the front of the building tho firemen were able to keep a measure of control and I lien; the lower floors have not been actually consumed. At a few minutes before midnight, t In- fire was still burning strongly, and it seenu-d inevitable that the whole would be destroyed with all its conlent s. The building is of brick ami concrete with woollen floors. It was recently rc-roofml with wood and iron, ami occupies the whole space between the New Zealand Express Company's seven-storeyed premises and the new T. ami (!. Insurance offices. At, the back the building destroyed is of four storeys, and at the front, one section i-- of four and the other of three si ore\'s.