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Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 64, Issue 4558, 10 April 1942, Page 5

Clouds of black smoke and several small explosions gave rise to some concern in the Ngamotu beach area, New Plymouth, a few days ago. They were caused by a fire which swept up an old seepage in an open drain running into the Hongi stream. Soldiers helped the New Plymouth Fire Brigade to beat out the fire. The outbreak started on the Ngamotu beach, where the Hongi stream runs out to sea. It ran up the stream and a drain, in Mr A. A. Bennett’s property. which goes through a pipe under a railway and a road. Several explosions, occurred as the fire ran through culverts. A bridge and a summer house on Mr Bennett’s property were destroyed. The fire ran for a distance of about a quarter of a mile. •