FIRE AT WAIMATE.

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 1316, 12 July 1911, Page 4

FIRE AT WAIMATE.

INCENDIAItISM-SUSPECTED.

[Utfrrpp P^ess Association.]

Walmate, July 11 A fire broke out at 4.40 this morning in tke hardware department of the Canterbury Farmers' Association's large brick emporium. The staff had been working at stock-taking the previous evening. The flames proved stubborn, defying the brigade, though there was a. good pressure of water from two loads of hose till 5.30, by which time the whole of the hardware department on the ground floor and the men's clothing and millinery department on the ground floor wore completely destroyed, and also the Grocery and boots stocks much damaged. The ceiling was burnt through in places, and the whole of the building in the front portion is smoked, steantrtl and saturated. The loss is very heavy, but it is understood that it is covered by insurance. This is the -first fire, that has occurred in the premises, which were erected about seven years ago. Fortunately the weather was cnlin, and the- brigade wore able to get the fire under. The dnmago, which is mostly 'caused by fire and water, will run intothonsands Incendiarism is susprcted.-""The goods ?.re covered by insurance.'