FIRE IN NEW PLYMOUTH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 19, 23 June 1913, Page 4

FIRE IN NEW PLYMOUTH.

I BOOT FACTORY GUTTED. | A member of the "Taranaki Daily j News" staff happened to be passing the ] Kgmont Boot Factory on his road homeward at 12.15 a/m. "on Saturday night, when a noise inside arrested his attention. Looking through the window, he I saw (lames, and immediately he rushed j to the Fire Brigade Station and aroused J (he men, who were into their clothes and 'i i the scene in a few minutes. The j ;i re-bell then clanged, and a crowd quickI i■. ■iMomblcd. I Flames were darting through the front :ii',d side windows, and volumes of smoke {were coming through the roof when the Brigadesmen arrived. The latter ,' soon had a strong lead of water playing upon the flames. Checked in front the flames broke out in the roof and also through a window on the western side. For a time it looked as if the fire was : going to beat the fighters, but the latter wore not to be defeated easily. By this time they had got more leads of water to work, and the combined force soon mastered the flames, and in halfj an-hour everything was safe. Fortunately, not a breath of wind was blowing at the time. Had there been, ■ it would have fared ill for Rargood's warehouse, and the buildings on the opposite side (including the "Dailv !Ne.ws"). The damage is considerable. Practically all the stock was rlestroved, in- , eluding a valuable lot of leather just imI ported. The machinery was also dami'anred, but to what extent we were unable to ascertain yesterday owing to the absence of the proprietor. Mr."Hal Goodacre, who is. at Wanganiii. on his ) wav back from a trip to Chrisfrhurch. The total damage is estimated at between £2OOO and £2OOO. The insurances are.—On the stock. £OOO in United Ofi'ice: £OOO South British; on the building: £SOO in the Commercial Union Total insurances. £2.000.