FIERCE FIRE IN WELLINGTON

Southland Times, Issue 24109, 24 April 1940, Page 6

FIERCE FIRE IN WELLINGTON

SEVERE DAMAGE TO BUILDING LOSS OF CLOTHING AND MACHINERY (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 23. Considerable damage was done to Summers’s Building, Cable street, by a fire early this morning. The top floor, occupied by Schneideman and Sons, manufacturing tailors, as a work room, was gutted, and severe damage was done to Turnbull and Jones’s workshop on part of the floor below. Other sections of the tuilding suffered from the effects of the great quantity of water used to suppress the flames. When the alarm was received at 2.35 a.m. a glow could be seen from the central station and a brigade call was issued. Fire engines were quickly on the scene and many leads of hose were run out, the fire being attacked from all sides. So strong had been the hold, however, before the alarm was given, that a large part of the roof fell in and part of the top floor gave way under the heavy pressing machinery. But well inside an hour, there was no sign of a flame. Extensive use was made of tarpaulins to cover the stock from water. Some leads were taken through Austin House and a good deal of water escaped here, most of it lying in the furniture storeroom of Kenners, Ltd., but the furniture itself appeared to escape damage. Some water also penetrated into the part used by Truth (N.Z.) Ltd., but did no damage. In addition to the loss of clothing made up of articles in the course of manufacture and stocks, Schneideman’s lost heavily through the loss of machinery and hundreds of patterns described as irreplaceable. A member of the firm said the fire would also have a serious effect on the carrying out of orders for military uniforms. A great deal of the fire was concentrated in part of the middle floor occupied by Turnbull and Jones, on to which the floor above gave way.

The ground floor was occupied by Fasers Furnishing Company, Ltd., and A. G. Healing and Co., cycle and motor importers. The building is owned by Mr E. A. Summers, of Christchurch. Schneideman’s have been tenants since the first part was erected in 1923.