FIRE AT WAITARA.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 September 1924, Page 6

FIRE AT WAITARA.

OUTBREAK IN STORE-ROOM. THE ORIGIN UNKNOWN. coob work by brigade. An outbreak of fire occurred at Waiter* in the early hours of yesterday morning, when a storeroom attached to a shop in the block known as Ogle’s Buildings, in the main street, was totally destroyed. The origin of the fire is unknown, and incendiarism is suggested, but investigations to date 7 "have not thrown any further light on the matter. The shoip to which the storeroom was attached is occupied by Mr. E. C. A. Caw, chemist. When Mr. Gaw left the premises at the usual closing time on Thursday everything was in order, and lie can offer no explanation of the origin of the outbreak. He had the stock insured for £9OO with the Commercial and General Office. The whole block of buildings, consisting of six shops, was insured for £BOO in the State Fire Office.

- The shop and its fittings were damaged by water, while the adjoining shops (those of D. Purdie, stationer, and G. H. Fletcher, butcher) suffered slight damage to stock. The brigade were promptly on the scene and did good work in confining the outbreak, which was rapidly spreading and endangering the whole block.

Next to Mr. Gaw, the heaviest losers among the occupants of the block were Wells and Co., whose tailor shop at the end of the block was badly affected by smoke, which found its way under the roof.

Although incendiarism is suspected, Detective-Sergeant Cooney, who. in company with Inspector Murray, of the New Plymouth police, visited the scene of the fire yesterday, states that no further developments have arisen to suggest that the premises were set on fire. It is reported that a young man who gave the alarm saw two running forms emerge from the right-of-way leading to the back of the shop. Further inquiries are being made. A Chinese fruiterer one door away from the fire had rather an exciting experience, and he and his family narrowly escaped suffocation. They were •11 asleep when the suffocating fumes awakened them and Ah Jack made a dash to the door with a child under

each arm, while his wife followed with another child in a pram. Ah Jack’s flock suffered minor damage. I ======