FIRE IN STAMP OFFICE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 26, 15 September 1911, Page 5

FIRE IN STAMP OFFICE.

BIG GOVERNMENT BUILDING JEOPARDISED. GOOD ALARM SYSTEM. ' (Per Press Association) Wellington, September 14. A fire which caused a good deal of concern broke out to-night in the Stamps Office at the back of the big Government Buildings, between Lambton Quay and Featherston Street. There was a good deal of smoke, and as this was blown by a southeasterly wind right through the main buildings, the impression was that there was a fire in the big buildings. Fortunately, this was not so. The building where the fire occurred is an annexe to the main building. Fires had been going in the fireplaces all day as usual, and it is evident that sparks escaped from the chimney and lodged between the roof and the ceiling. The outbreak was discovered just before ten o’clock, the patent fire alarm working splendidly, indicating immediately throughout the whole of the buildings where the fire was located. 1 The fire was got under control quickly, though the annexe was practically gutted. The building was used'for Stamps, Death Duties, Companies and Provident Societies Registration Departments, and for the embossing of cheque stamps. Any deeds owned by the public were locked in iron safes, and will bo undamaged.

There will be considerable inconvenience through the destruction of documents, but so far as is known at present it is not thought any papers of great importance have boon burned.