FIRE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 144357, 23 March 1914, Page 2

FIRE.

OUTBREAK, IN EGMONT STREET. SHOP PARTIALLY GUTTED The firebells rang out an, alarm at 1.30 a.m. oa Sunday, when it was found that a fire was raging fiercely in Mr. 0. 0. Hawke’s Egmont Street stationery shop. At this early hour of the morning very few people were about and the strong south-easterly wind that was blowing made the bells inaudible to a great extent, and kept the smoke down. It so happened that two young men were passing along Egmont Street and noticed the smoke. While one raised the alarm in the locality, rousing the inmates in the adjoining building and the Grosvenor Hotel, the other rushed to the Central Fire Station. Within a very short space of time the brigade was on the spot with the new motor-engine, but not before flames were bursting through the windows of the upper storey. With its usual promptitude and aided by the good pressure of water, the brigade quickly had the fire under control, and at 2 a.m. all danger was passed. The building is a large two-storeyed structure of corrugated iron, with wooden partitions and front. Apparently the fire, the origin of which is a mystery, started in one of the back rooms of the upstairs portion, which is divided into seven rooms. Here a lot of basket-ware and Christmas cards were stocked, and the flames soon reduced this highly inflammable matter to ashes. Practically the whole of the upstairs portion was gutted, the fire not entering the lower half at all. Much damage, however, was done to the stock by water. Firemen early on the scene estimate that when the flames wore at their highest they leapt to a height of quite 60 feet, and the sight of the light material burning so furiously was a magnificent one. ■ Fortunately the nes;t shop (Wooller’s) had a brick wall, and this checked the spread of the fire. „ Some alarm was occasioned at first when it was thought that the Misses Hawke might be sleeping in the building as they not infrequently do. However, the rumour proved to bh a false one. The building, which was owned by Mr. Hawke, was insured with the Standard Fire Insurance Company for £SSO. The stock was covered to the a.mount of £2450, made up as follows Standard Office, £1200; Alliance Assurance Company, £760; North British Mercantile Insurance Company, £SOO. The brigade wish to thank Messrs. A. Wooller and 0. Harrison for providing refreshments. Thr/r kindness was keenly appreciated.