FIRES

Southland Times, Issue 19771, 20 February 1923, Page 6

FIRES

WELLINGTON OUTBREAKS. WOMAN’S DESPERATE PREDICAMENT. (Per United Press Association). WELLINGTON, February 19. An exciting incident occurred at Taita at 4.30 on Sunday morning, when a twostoreyed residence occupied by Arthur Charles Clegg was destroyed by fire. The building, which was nearly 50 years old, was discovered to be on fire by Mrs Clegg’ who rushed upstairs to warn her father’. She succeeded in getting him down when she found her own escape cut off. She got through a window on to a shed and fell to the ground, striking her head and face as she came down. She was brought to Wellington Hospital, where she was found to be suffering from severe cuts and shock, but she is now progressing fairly well. The Fire Brigade had a call at 11.40 on Saturday night to a fire in a building in Singer’s Avenue off Willis street, one of the most thickly built parts of the city. Apparently the fire had been burning some time as it had a great hold in the upper storeys. Being a concrete building the heat was intense. The brigade fought the very difficult situation as the fire threatened to overwhelm a large block of buildings in the vicinity, and it was over two hours before the mastery was obtained. The two upper storeys were completely gutted by fire and the contents destroyer!. Great damage was done on the ground floor to stocks by smoke and waler. The second and third floors were occupied by Rossman (ladies’ tailor) and Messrs Dorones Bros. Cramp and Co. were tenants on the first floor, the contents of which were badly damaged. The City Printing Company and Dr Aldred were on the ground floor and their stocks were damaged by heat, smoke and water. The building was owned by Mr Fletcher, chemist.